conv.

All stories
BusinessActive · 41h

Xbox restructuring cuts World's Edge nearly in half, moves Age of Empires to Activision

Microsoft's organizational overhaul lays off nearly half of the Age of Empires studio's staff and transfers it out of Xbox Game Studios.

newest coverage 19h agosummary written 15h ago2 pieces Newswires

What to know

  • World's Edge lost nearly half its staff, including Creative Director Adam Isgreen, in Microsoft's September 22 restructuring and transfer to Activision control.
  • The studio's next project was canceled; immediate impact on Age of Empires' substantial post-launch commitments unclear since World's Edge manages external developers rather than building games itself.
  • Move is part of broader Xbox reorganization affecting Halo (moving to Activision), Ninja Theory (impending closure), and multiple other studios; layoffs roughly 75% complete.

“The studio doesn't build the games itself. It sets creative direction and manages the external developers who do so, a model Isgreen has described as ensuring the series is heading where it should.”

Wccftech, Reporter · Wccftech ↗

Adam Isgreen Creative Director, World's EdgeWorld's Edge Age of Empires custodian studioMicrosoft/Xbox Owner conducting restructuringActivision New publishing home for World's Edge

Xbox restructuring cuts World's Edge nearly in half, moves Age of Empires to Activision
Eurogamer

How it unfolded 1 development · click the chart to see its coverage articles

Peak 1 piece in one hour at Sep 22, 9 AM; 2 pieces over 42 hours (2 articles) Sep 22, 9 AM — 1 piece · 1 article — Newswires 1Sep 22, 10 AM — quietSep 22, 11 AM — quietSep 22, 12 PM — quietSep 22, 1 PM — quietSep 22, 2 PM — quietSep 22, 3 PM — quietSep 22, 4 PM — quietSep 22, 5 PM — quietSep 22, 6 PM — quietSep 22, 7 PM — quietSep 22, 8 PM — quietSep 22, 9 PM — quietSep 22, 10 PM — quietSep 22, 11 PM — quietYesterday, 12 AM — quietYesterday, 1 AM — quietYesterday, 2 AM — quietYesterday, 3 AM — quietYesterday, 4 AM — quietYesterday, 5 AM — quietYesterday, 6 AM — quietYesterday, 7 AM — 1 piece · 1 article — Newswires 1Yesterday, 8 AM — quietYesterday, 9 AM — quietYesterday, 10 AM — quietYesterday, 11 AM — quietYesterday, 12 PM — quietYesterday, 1 PM — quietYesterday, 2 PM — quietYesterday, 3 PM — quietYesterday, 4 PM — quietYesterday, 5 PM — quietYesterday, 6 PM — quietYesterday, 7 PM — quietYesterday, 8 PM — quietYesterday, 9 PM — quietYesterday, 10 PM — quietYesterday, 11 PM — quietToday, 12 AM — quietToday, 1 AM — quietToday, 2 AM — quiet 1
4 PMyesterday8 AM4 PMnow · 3:48 AM ET
  1. 1

    Adam Isgreen confirms World's Edge layoffs, canceled project

    Creative Director Adam Isgreen reveals on LinkedIn and ResetEra forums that just under half of World's Edge staff, including himself, has been laid off. Senior Software Engineer Andrew Martz discloses that the studio's next project was canceled as part of the restructuring.

    “What a morning. FYI World's Edge was not spared completely - just under half the studio was let go - myself included. Been fun, y'all!”
    — Adam Isgreen
    1. 2 outlets Xbox Restructuring Guts Age of Empires Custodian World's Edge, Cutting Half the Team as Activision Takes Over

      first by Wccftech, 1d ago · also Eurogamer

      1 more headline
  2. background

    World's Edge oversight model preserved under new ownership — While World's Edge itself lost nearly half its team, the studio does not directly develop games but rather manages external developers and sets creative direction—a model that has successfully overseen Age of Empires II and III Definitive Editions, Age of Empires IV, and Age of Mythology: Retold. Remaining staff may continue this approach under Activision.

  3. background

    Microsoft announces Xbox restructuring, World's Edge moves to Activision — Xbox Game Studios undergoes organizational restructuring. World's Edge, the Age of Empires custodian founded in 2019, is moved from Xbox Game Studios to Activision's control, alongside Rare. Halo franchise and development also move to Activision.