The year 2025 has begun, and so have new layoffs, including at Microsoft. According to media reports, a "small" number of employees from the gaming division, as well as from security and sales departments, will be let go. The exact number of affected individuals is unknown, but the layoffs could easily reach dozens, considering Microsoft's global workforce.

It’s worth noting that these new layoffs are unrelated to the previous wave in January. Last week, "underperforming" employees were let go. The current round of layoffs appears to be a necessary measure to streamline Microsoft's business and reduce expenses.

Interestingly, it was recently revealed that Microsoft had considered shutting down the Xbox brand entirely in 2021. If this rumor is true, potentially hundreds or even thousands of employees could have lost their jobs. However, the company opted instead to pursue acquisitions of developers and publishers.

While Microsoft's overall performance remains relatively strong, the company was not immune to significant layoffs last year. For instance, in early 2024, 1,900 employees were affected by job cuts.

Main image: unsplash.com

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