"activision-blizzard"

As studios around the world struggle to get new projects off the ground and as a singular focus on maximizing shareholders’ return sees large companies tap into the utopian dream of generative AI, employees in the gaming industry have begun to unionize to protect their livelihoods and rights.

The job cuts will affect around 8 per cent of the overall Microsoft gaming division that has some 22,000 employees. 

Microsoft President Brad Smith posted, "From Day One of this acquisition, we’ve been committed to addressing the concerns of regulators, platform and game developers, and consumers."

In January, Microsoft confirmed that it will allow popular first person shooter game CoD to stay on Sony PlayStation.

The deal worth $68.7 bn, would be Microsoft's biggest ever buyout and the largest deal in gaming history, the report said.

When the transaction closes, Microsoft will become the world's third-largest gaming company by revenue, behind Tencent and Sony.