Microsoft Restructures Xbox Studios as Activision Takes Over Halo Development

Microsoft has announced another round of restructuring across Xbox, cutting 268 roles across Halo Studios and other first-party studios. The company says this change brings it roughly three-quarters of the way through the restructuring process that began earlier this year.

The larger change is how Microsoft's gaming studios will be organized. Activision will expand its oversight to include Rare and World's Edge, with Activision also taking on development of the next Halo game. A new team created specifically for the project will operate separately from Call of Duty development, while a smaller Halo Studios team will continue supporting existing Halo games.

Bethesda will take responsibility for Obsidian, continuing its existing projects including Grounded and a new Fallout game being developed with Bethesda Game Studios. King will also absorb Microsoft Casual Games. Playground Games and Turn 10 will be combined into a single studio responsible for the Forza and Fable franchises.