Microsoft Xbox layoffs prompt United Videogame Workers hardship fund

On July 6, Microsoft announced a round of layoffs that will cut 3,200 jobs in its Xbox division, with half of the cuts taking effect immediately and the remainder over the next year. In response, the United Videogame Workers (UVW) union launched a Hardship Fund on July 1 to provide mutual aid to workers who lose their jobs. The fund quickly raised over $100,000, helped by a fundraising bundle organized by developer Brandon Sheffield.

The layoffs also affected Halo Studios, the team behind the Halo franchise. Employees including producer Nick Treitman, scrum master Paul Morris and software engineer Caleb Lawrence confirmed they were let go. The studio, recently renamed from 343 Industries and transitioning to Unreal Engine 5, now faces questions about its development schedule and future projects.