Xbox isn’t the only Microsoft division looking to massively reduce worker headcounts. In fact, Microsoft has just announced a “Voluntary Exit Offer” that will essentially pay staff to move in front of any potential layoffs and voluntarily leave their jobs.
Microsoft CPO Amy Coleman announced the plan earlier today. “This offer gives eligible employees who may be considering a future outside the company a new choice to make that transition now with support. It also gives participating organizations another way to adapt their workforce to changing needs,” Colemon wrote in a memo sent to staff.
The voluntary buyout is only available to Microsoft employees “at level 70 and below” in Canada, India, the United Kingdom and the United States. Some corners of the company have opted out of the offer – it’s currently unclear if Xbox or any of the studios under its umbrella are participating in the initiative.
“This is a time-limited, voluntary program that gives those who are eligible the opportunity to leave Microsoft with financial support and career planning resources. Some organizations are providing the Voluntary Exit Offer, and some are not. Participation varies based on each business’s priorities, customer commitments and workforce needs,” Coleman added.
A Microsoft spokesperson told Business Insider that the offer will be available to about 60,000 employees, roughly 25 percent of the company’s total workforce – a staggering figure. According to the outlet, Microsoft’s voluntary exit offer has similar terms to the company’s severance packages, and eligible workers need to decide if they’ll lay themselves off by early December.
Xbox embarked on a huge “reset” earlier this year, which involved a planned 3,200 jobs cuts and a massive internal restructure for many of its first-party studios. Double Fine, Compulsion Games and Undead Labs have all gone independent since then, while the fates of Arkane Lyon and Ninja Theory are still shaky. As CNBC noted, the voluntary buyout was announced as Microsoft tries to balance its sky-high spending in generative AI.