# Assessing Xbox’s Layoffs, Game Cancellations, and Studio Closures – Unlocked 698

An episode of [Unlocked](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/podcast/276268454), 3 Jul 2025, 1 h 20 min.

Audio: https://www.podtrac.com/pts/redirect.mp3/pscrb.fm/rss/p/mgln.ai/e/495/traffic.megaphone.fm/SBP9248939228.mp3?updated=1751505735

As expected, layoffs at Microsoft and Xbox did happen this week, and they were unbelievably brutal. Approximately 9,000 people reportedly got laid off, multiple games were canceled, and entire studios were shut down. We sort through the wreckage on this week's Unlocked. 00:00 - Intro 00:11:12 - Assessing Xbox’s Layoffs 00:24:33 - ZeniMax Online’s New MMORPG Has Been Canceled 00:29:55 - Perfect Dark and Game Cancellations 00:44:41 - The Damage to Xbox's Brand 00:52:21 - Xbox's Future & Phil Spencer's Rumored Retirement 01:10:14 - Mafia: The Old Country, LV1 Gaming, & Outro Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Shows are listed from Apple Podcasts' charts and directory, and Podcast Index where it is used. Every show and episode belongs to its publisher and plays from the publisher's own feed; this site hosts none of them.