Microsoft has laid off 10,000 members of staff as the company shifts its focus towards the future.
In a public message to staff, Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella said the decision was "difficult but necessary" but is confident that "Microsoft will emerge from this stronger and more competitive".
It's unclear exactly which departments are affected, but Microsoft made clear the redundancies were a result of it reprioritising different areas of the business and that it would still be hiring in "key strategic areas".
The 10,000 jobs, which represent less than 5% of Microsoft's workforce, will be removed by the end of the third quarter of financial year 2023, meaning roughly by the end of January.
"We will treat our people with dignity and respect, and act transparently," said Nadella. "These decisions are difficult, but necessary. They are especially difficult because they impact people and people’s lives – our colleagues and friends."
He also claimed the lay-offs would demand a new mindset from Microsoft and each of its employees as they meet the demands of the industry. "When I think about this moment in time, the start of 2023, it’s showtime – for our industry and for Microsoft," Nadella added.
"As a company, our success must be aligned to the world’s success. That means every one of us and every team across the company must raise the bar and perform better than the competition to deliver meaningful innovation that customers, communities, and countries can truly benefit from."
Ryan Dinsdale is an IGN freelancer and acting UK news editor. He'll talk about The Witcher all day.
source https://www.ign.com/articles/microsoft-lays-off-10000-staff