Microsoft Buyouts: 60,000 Staff Offered Exit Packages [Confirmed]

According to verified investigative reports published by Rock Paper Shotgun in February 2026, Microsoft has officially initiated voluntary buyout packages for approximately 60,000 workers across the entire corporation, representing roughly twenty-five percent of its global enterprise headcount. This dramatic measure arrives directly on the heels of strict new return-to-office mandates requiring staff to commute four days weekly starting in February, alongside multiple devastating layoff rounds within the Xbox gaming division. Employees receiving these notifications face difficult career crossroads as executive leadership aggressively streamlines operations. Similar corporate pivots are mirroring tech infrastructure shifts seen during recent updates like the [Windows 11 Speed Test Feature: Quick Settings Update [Confirmed]](/news/windows-11-speed-test-update). Industry analysts note that studio morale has plummeted following successive waves of restructuring, raising serious concerns regarding long-term project delivery schedules for upcoming AAA titles and franchise support. Xbox developers and internal support teams are expressing widespread frustration over shifting strategic priorities. Furthermore, union representatives and labor advocacy groups have strongly condemned the lack of transparency surrounding these sweeping exit packages. As the tech sector navigates this unprecedented contraction, market watchers anticipate further workforce consolidations across major publisher ecosystems throughout the remainder of 2026.