‘By Every Objective Measure, We’re Thriving’: Microsoft CEO Expresses Gratitude to All Those Laid Off

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Just a few weeks ago, Microsoft made the tough decision to eliminate approximately 9,000 positions company-wide, with their Xbox department experiencing a significant impact.

The result was the termination of numerous ongoing productions, encompassing The Initiative’s Perfect Dark and Everwild from Rare. These projects, had they been completed, were expected to be launched on PlayStation 5.

At that moment, Phil Spencer, head of gaming at Microsoft, expressed confidence that their business had “never been more robust”. However, this statement provided little comfort for those who were being let go.

Currently, CEO Satya Nadellas’ recent statement echoes a similar eerie sentiment. It’s likely that this message was crafted with some help from Copilot.

The letter distributed to everyone within our organization acknowledges heartfelt appreciation towards those whose positions were recently terminated. It recognizes their efforts as crucial in shaping our company’s identity and establishing the strong base we operate on currently. In essence, I want to express my sincere gratitude for their contributions.

It continues:

In every standard evaluation, Microsoft appears to be flourishing – our market success, strategic advantages, and expansion rates all indicate an upward trajectory. We’re pouring more money into capital expenditure than ever before. Our workforce numbers remain relatively steady, while the skills and knowledge within our industry and at Microsoft are being acknowledged and generously compensated like never before. Yet, amidst this growth, we have implemented job cuts as well.

Success in an industry without any franchise value is a mystery that we must navigate. The path forward isn’t straightforward; instead, it’s ever-changing, sometimes challenging, and consistently demanding. However, this complexity offers us a fresh chance to mold the future, guide others through it, and make a more significant impact than ever before.

Later, Nadella passionately discusses AI, envisioning a world where “every individual” could easily access a researcher, analyst, or programming assistant with just a simple touch of a button.

In the missive I received, AI was mentioned an astounding seven times, yet there wasn’t a hint about Xbox or gaming – this clear omission underscores the CEO’s aspirations that revolve around artificial intelligence.

It’s clear that Microsoft is expected to announce impressive earnings in its upcoming report next week, as evidenced by its stocks reaching new heights in excitement earlier today.

However, it’s unclear if any of this will reassure an apprehensive workforce that is growing more and more concerned about potential job losses in the near future.

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2025-07-25 22:06