Recent massive layoffs at Microsoft have affected many game studios and games in development. The studio behind the Perfect Dark reboot, The Initiative, has been completely shut down. Forza Motorsport developers at Turn 10 have lost some of their staff. Zenimax Online Studios has seen studio head Matt Firor leave, and an unannounced sci-fi MMORPG based on a new IP has been canceled despite being in development since 2018. In addition, there have been rumors that Phil Spencer, Microsoft Gaming CEO and head of Xbox, will leave the company after the launch of the next Xbox console in 2027-2028. He will be replaced by Sarah Bond, president of Xbox.
Xbox has already responded to these rumors and gave an official answer to The Verge. Xbox Communications Head Kari Perez claims that Phil Spencer's resignation is not planned in the near future. It will not be in the next few years. These words were supported by Microsoft Communications Head Frank Shaw. He added that such rumors are a fabrication. Of course, in 2-3 years the situation may change significantly. Especially considering the scale of cuts in gaming companies. But for now, Xbox fans should only worry about the already canceled projects of Microsoft's internal studios.