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BusinessActive · 29h

World's Edge loses nearly half its staff after moving to Activision

The Age of Empires studio's transition within Microsoft's restructuring cuts included creative director Adam Isgreen.

newest coverage 16h agosummary written 15h ago3 pieces5 likes & upvotes Hacker NewsNewswiresMastodon

What to know

  • World's Edge lost just under half its staff, including creative director Adam Isgreen, following Microsoft's move of the studio to Activision.
  • The layoffs are part of a larger Xbox restructuring that eliminated 268 positions across multiple studios and management layers.
  • Isgreen, a 16-year Microsoft veteran, expressed disappointment that the departure disrupted planned projects for the Age of Empires franchise.
  • Activision leadership welcomed the newly transferred studios, emphasizing their legacy of fan-beloved games.

“I never thought that I'd work at Microsoft, let alone spend a significant amount of my career here - 16 years! - especially in a creative-first role.”

Adam Isgreen, Creative Director, World's Edge · ResetEra ↗

Adam Isgreen Creative Director, World's EdgeRob Kostich President, ActivisionMicrosoft Parent company initiating restructuring

World's Edge loses nearly half its staff after moving to Activision
vgchartz.com

How it unfolded 2 developments, newest first · click a bar or a number to jump articlesposts

Peak 1 piece in one half hour at Sep 22, 8 PM; 3 pieces over 30 hours (1 article · 2 posts) Sep 22, 8:07 PM — quietSep 22, 8:37 PM — 1 piece · 1 post — Hacker News 1Sep 22, 9:07 PM — quietSep 22, 9:37 PM — 1 piece · 1 article — Newswires 1Sep 22, 10:07 PM — quietSep 22, 10:37 PM — quietSep 22, 11:07 PM — quietSep 22, 11:37 PM — quietYesterday, 12:07 AM — quietYesterday, 12:37 AM — quietYesterday, 1:07 AM — quietYesterday, 1:37 AM — quietYesterday, 2:07 AM — quietYesterday, 2:37 AM — quietYesterday, 3:07 AM — quietYesterday, 3:37 AM — quietYesterday, 4:07 AM — quietYesterday, 4:37 AM — quietYesterday, 5:07 AM — quietYesterday, 5:37 AM — quietYesterday, 6:07 AM — quietYesterday, 6:37 AM — quietYesterday, 7:07 AM — quietYesterday, 7:37 AM — quietYesterday, 8:07 AM — quietYesterday, 8:37 AM — quietYesterday, 9:07 AM — quietYesterday, 9:37 AM — 1 piece · 1 post — Mastodon 1Yesterday, 10:07 AM — quietYesterday, 10:37 AM — quietYesterday, 11:07 AM — quietYesterday, 11:37 AM — quietYesterday, 12:07 PM — quietYesterday, 12:37 PM — quietYesterday, 1:07 PM — quietYesterday, 1:37 PM — quietYesterday, 2:07 PM — quietYesterday, 2:37 PM — quietYesterday, 3:07 PM — quietYesterday, 3:37 PM — quietYesterday, 4:07 PM — quietYesterday, 4:37 PM — quietYesterday, 5:07 PM — quietYesterday, 5:37 PM — quietYesterday, 6:07 PM — quietYesterday, 6:37 PM — quietYesterday, 7:07 PM — quietYesterday, 7:37 PM — quietYesterday, 8:07 PM — quietYesterday, 8:37 PM — quietYesterday, 9:07 PM — quietYesterday, 9:37 PM — quietYesterday, 10:07 PM — quietYesterday, 10:37 PM — quietYesterday, 11:07 PM — quietYesterday, 11:37 PM — quietToday, 12:07 AM — quietToday, 12:37 AM — quietToday, 1:07 AM — quietToday, 1:37 AM — quiet 12
yesterday8 AM4 PMnow · 2:07 AM ET
  1. 2

    Activision president welcomes World's Edge and other studios

    Rob Kostich, Activision president, issued a statement welcoming Halo, Rare, and World's Edge to the company, calling it an honour and responsibility.

    “We're thrilled to welcome Halo, Rare, and World's Edge to Activision. It's an honour and a responsibility that we do not take lightly. These teams and their games have inspired fans around the world for decades.”
    — Rob Kostich
    • GIbiz@mastodon.social

      Age of Empires studio World's Edge has been hit with layoffs following its transition to Activision, with "just under half" of employees affected https://www. gamesindustry.biz/age-of-empir es-developer-worlds-edge-hit-with-layoffs-following-move-to-activision

      GIbiz@mastodon.socialMastodon16h agoview on Mastodon ↗
  2. background

    Isgreen expresses regret over unfulfilled plans after 16 years — Isgreen posted a detailed reflection on LinkedIn and ResetEra about his departure, noting the studio had plans he hoped the remaining team could execute. He cited pride in work on Age of Empires and the broader Microsoft portfolio.

  3. 1

    Adam Isgreen confirms World's Edge layoffs, announces departure

    Adam Isgreen, creative director of World's Edge, posted on ResetEra that just under half the studio was laid off, including himself. He reflected on his 16-year career at Microsoft and expressed disappointment about the timing.

    “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. 1 outlet Nearly Half of Age of Empires Dev World's Edge Laid Off - News

      first by VG Charts, 1d ago

  4. background

    Xbox announces studio restructuring, moves World's Edge to Activision — Microsoft announced a restructuring of Xbox studios that included moving World's Edge, Rare, and the Halo franchise to Activision. The changes eliminated 268 positions across multiple studios and management layers.