As a result of Microsoft ‘ s recent lay-offs, many of the workshops under the Xbox flag were closed and several games were cut off (including the four-year ” Contraband ” , developed in partnership with the avalanche studio). As a result, the industry has given rise to speculation about the current viability of the Xbox project, in particular its joint OD with the small island studio, although Microsoft seems to confirm that the project is still very stable.
A prominent journalist, Jason Schreier, recently revealed on BlueSky platform that Microsoft spokesmen confirmed to him that the development of the terrorist game ” OD ” , led by the small island Soove, was still continuing. The OD was first published in 2022 by Xbox in cooperation with the Island Studio, and was officially unveiled in 2023 at the TGA Awards, confirming that it would work with Oscar’s director, Jordan Pier, to create “an unprecedented experience of terror”.
At the time of the announcement, Xbox had just announced the suspension of its cooperation with Romero’s game studio, following the miscarriage of works such as Everwild’s Perfect Darkness due to Microsoft’s global downsizing of 9,100 people.
It is a matter of concern that, in an interview last month, the small island Suo-man himself clarified: “I’m still advancing OD.” This statement was viewed by industry as a strong endorsement of the project’s viability. In the context of the Microsoft strategy ‘ s contraction, the insistence on retaining cooperation with top producers highlights the importance that Xbox attaches to the original IP.
Since Microsoft acquired the storm with $69 billion, Microsoft has been engaged in a number of large-scale layoffs of its game business. In January 2024, Microsoft reduced its staff by 1,900, and several months later closed the Arkane Austin studio of the Red Xia Island developer and the Tango Gameworks studio of the Perfect Sound developer. In September 2024, Microsoft reduced its game business by another 650 employees. In May of this year, Microsoft again reduced its alarming 6,000 staff, or 3 per cent of its global workforce. This was the fourth round of staff reductions suffered by Microsoft games within 18 months.