Particle.news

Download on the App Store

Microsoft Slashes 9,100 Xbox Jobs and Cancels Rare’s Everwild

Phil Spencer says the cuts will position Xbox for long-term growth following the termination of Rare’s decade-long action-adventure project.

Four characters look up at a picture of a deer drawn in the night sky with magical lights in a 2020 trailer for Everwild.
Image
Image
Image

Overview

  • Phil Spencer announced a reduction of more than 9,100 Xbox roles to streamline operations and sharpen the division’s focus on strategic growth.
  • Rare’s Everwild, first revealed in 2019 and rebooted under Gregg Mayles in 2021, has been cancelled after over a decade of development.
  • Anonymous developers report that Everwild struggled to establish a clear creative vision despite multiple redesigns and leadership interventions.
  • The layoffs will affect Rare and other Xbox studios as Microsoft reorganises its gaming group to improve efficiency and resource allocation.
  • Spencer had publicly asserted earlier this year that Everwild was making progress even though it had not appeared in any major Xbox showcases since 2020.