Microsoft has reportedly laid off employees working on Call of Duty: Warzone Mobile and Warcraft Rumble. Both mobile games–part of mega-popular franchises–have launched in the past year but are seemingly seeing their teams scaled back.
Game File reported these specific cuts to the two mobile development teams, which are part of September 12’s large layoffs at Xbox. Microsoft laid off 650 people that “mostly” impacted the “corporate and supporting” parts of the company, according to a staff memo obtained by IGN. It was noted that no studios were closed or games canceled as part of the Xbox cuts.
However, Warcraft Rumble will transition from “launch to live-ops,” per Game File. It’s unknown exactly how that will affect the mobile game–which will still be available. Warcraft Rumble launched in November 2023 and was the franchise’s first new game in almost a decade.
Meanwhile, Call of Duty: Warzone Mobile launched earlier this year in March and features cross-progression with Modern Warfare 3 and Warzone. It was seen as a possible missing link for Call of Duty and is one of two mobile titles in the franchise, with the other being Call of Duty: Mobile. Like Warcraft Rumble, Warzone Mobile is continuing on, but “its team is being scaled down,” per Game File.
This is another round of major layoffs at Microsoft since the company acquired Activision Blizzard. In January, Xbox cut 1,900 jobs, and then in May, Xbox shut down four studios, including Redfall’s Arkane Austin.
