Microsoft Hands Over Next Halo Title to Activision Amid Xbox Layoffs

Microsoft is expanding Activision's scope to cover not only the next Halo title but also games from World's Edge and Rare, as part of its restructuring efforts in the gaming division.

The move comes as Microsoft continues to lay off positions at its first-party studios, with 268 roles eliminated across Halo Studios, other first-party studios, and XGS management and central functions layer.

This is roughly three-quarters of the way through the fiscal year's planned layoffs of 3,200 jobs in the gaming division, according to Matt Booty, head of Xbox Game Studios.