Microsoft Allegedly Goes Dark on Every Xbox Social Media Platform Following Dismissal of 650 Employees to Not ‘Feel the Burn’ Once Again

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Allegedly Goes Dark on Every Xbox Social Media Platform Following Dismissal of 650 Employees to Not ‘Feel the *****’ Once Again

In a week when Xbox fans were hoping to hear a response from

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to the PS5 Pro, the tech giant is making headlines for a different reason altogether.

Yesterday,

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announced a third round of layoffs in its gaming division, with 650 employees losing their jobs. The news comes as a shock to many, especially considering the company’s recent acquisitions and studio closures.

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Phil Spencer, CEO of

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Gaming. | Image Credit: Xbox

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Channel

But what’s even more surprising is

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’s alleged decision to go dark on all Xbox social media platforms following the announcement. Reportedly, the company has instructed employees to cancel scheduled posts and remain silent on social media. Could this be a measure to avoid the backlash they faced the last time they announced job cuts?

Bravo Six, Going Dark: To Avoid Another “Feel the *****” Incident?

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Captain Price is now

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’s, after all. | Image Credit: Activision

The decision to go dark on social media is a curious one, but it may not be entirely unexpected. As reported by Tom Warren of

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, this move could be an attempt to avoid a repeat of the “feel the *****” controversy that erupted in May 2024 when

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announced the closure of several studios, including Arkane Austin and Tango Gameworks.

Shortly after the studio closures were announced, Xbox released a new controller called the ***** Vapor Special Edition with the tagline “Feel the ***** today.” The timing of the announcement was seen as insensitive by many, and the backlash was swift.

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quickly changed the tagline, but the damage was done.

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asks Xbox gamers to “Feel the ***** Today” with yet another special edition Xbox controller on the same day it shuts Xbox studios

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— Tom Warren (@tomwarren)

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As Warren notes, by instructing employees to remain silent on social media and cancel scheduled posts, the gaming giant may be hoping to avoid a similar situation this time around. But will this strategy work, or will it only fuel speculation and criticism?

Xbox’s Tumultuous Year: Acquisitions, Studio Closures, and Controversial Decisions

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Are these recent decisions just ill-informed gambles? | Image Credit: MachineGames

The layoffs are just the latest in a series of controversial moves by

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’s gaming division. In recent years, the company has been on an acquisition spree, spending billions on high-profile studios like Bethesda and Activision Blizzard. However, these acquisitions have come at a cost, with

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recently closing down several award-winning studios and laying off hundreds of employees.

In January 2024,

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***** off 1,900 employees across various departments, including Xbox. The move was seen as an attempt to streamline operations and integrate the newly acquired Activision Blizzard, but it still came as a shock to many in the industry.

It’s worth noting that

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has also been making some questionable decisions when it comes to its gaming exclusives.

The upcoming Indiana Jones and the Great Circle, developed by a first-party Xbox studio, has been confirmed to be coming to Sony’s consoles mere months after its release on Xbox and PC. And with Call of Duty: ****** Ops 6 set to release on Xbox Game Pass, it’s hard not to wonder if

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is taking too many gambles with its gaming division.

As the gaming industry continues to evolve and consolidate, it will be interesting to see how

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navigates these challenges. Will the company’s acquisition spree pay off in the long run, or will it continue to face criticism and backlash over its decisions? As always—only time will tell.

What do you think about

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’s recent layoffs and studio closures? Do you think the company is making the right moves, or is it heading in the wrong direction? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below!