Xbox’s ‘reset’: all the news about Microsoft’s looming layoffs and studio closures
Xbox’s ‘reset’: all the news about Microsoft’s looming layoffs and studio closures
Xbox 的“重置”：关于微软即将到来的裁员和工作室关闭的所有新闻
Xbox is making some big changes — again. On June 10th, a few months after Asha Sharma took over as CEO, she and newly-promoted chief content officer Matt Booty sent a memo to staff warning of an “Xbox reset.” The business, they said, is facing significant challenges, including a 3 percent “accountability margin,” massively higher component prices for consoles due to the memory and storage shortage, and an “over extended” studio system.
Xbox 正在进行重大变革——再一次。6 月 10 日，在 Asha Sharma 接任首席执行官几个月后，她与新晋升的首席内容官 Matt Booty 向员工发送了一份备忘录，警告称 Xbox 将进行“重置”。他们表示，该业务正面临严峻挑战，包括 3% 的“问责利润率”、由于内存和存储短缺导致的主机组件价格大幅上涨，以及“过度扩张”的工作室系统。
That same day, The Verge and Bloomberg reported that the Xbox division was planning layoffs in July. The cuts, expected to be announced on July 6th, could include studio closures or spinoffs. The Verge’s Tom Warren reported on June 30th that Microsoft is looking at closing at least five studios and potentially canceling games like Blade.
同一天，The Verge 和彭博社报道称，Xbox 部门计划在 7 月进行裁员。预计将于 7 月 6 日宣布的裁员计划可能包括关闭工作室或将其分拆。The Verge 的 Tom Warren 在 6 月 30 日报道称，微软正考虑关闭至少五家工作室，并可能取消《刀锋战士》（Blade）等游戏。
Under Sharma’s leadership, Xbox has already made some other major changes, including upcoming price hikes for Xbox consoles, lowering Game Pass prices but cutting out new Call of Duty games, rebranding Xbox to XBOX, and making both Gears of War: E-Day and Clockwork Revolution Xbox console exclusives.
在 Sharma 的领导下，Xbox 已经做出了一些其他重大调整，包括即将上调 Xbox 主机价格、降低 Game Pass 订阅价格但剔除新的《使命召唤》游戏、将 Xbox 更名为 XBOX，并将《战争机器：E-Day》和《发条革命》（Clockwork Revolution）设为 Xbox 主机独占游戏。
Highlights / 重点摘要
- Xbox weighs canceling Blade game and shuttering Arkane / Xbox 考虑取消《刀锋战士》游戏并关闭 Arkane 工作室
- Xbox warns of a ‘reset’ as it prepares for layoffs / Xbox 警告将进行“重置”并准备裁员
- Xbox exclusives are back and more complicated than ever / Xbox 独占策略回归，且比以往任何时候都更复杂
Jun 30 | Jay Peters
Xbox will reportedly still publish Hideo Kojima’s OD. 据报道，Xbox 仍将发行小岛秀夫的《OD》。
Xbox is expected to make some tough cuts soon, and it already dropped a new franchise from IO Interactive, but OD will continue to be part of Xbox’s publishing lineup, according to IGN.
据 IGN 报道，Xbox 预计很快将进行一些艰难的削减，并且已经放弃了 IO Interactive 的一个新系列，但《OD》仍将保留在 Xbox 的发行阵容中。
Jun 30 | Jay Peters
007 First Light’s developer lays off staff but claims its next franchise will continue 《007：第一道光》开发商裁员，但声称其下一个系列将继续开发
IO Interactive, the studio behind the Hitman series and 007 First Light, announced that it is laying off staff after a relationship with an “external partner” on its next big franchise, Project Fantasy, “has come to an end.” IO has described Project Fantasy as an “online fantasy RPG”, and Kotaku and Bloomberg report that Microsoft, which is planning significant cuts as part of a broader “reset” of the Xbox business, was going to be the game’s publisher.
《杀手》系列和《007：第一道光》背后的工作室 IO Interactive 宣布，在与“外部合作伙伴”就其下一个大型项目《Project Fantasy》的关系“宣告结束”后，公司正在裁员。IO 将《Project Fantasy》描述为一款“在线奇幻 RPG”，而 Kotaku 和彭博社报道称，作为 Xbox 业务更广泛“重置”计划的一部分，微软原本是该游戏的发行商。
It’s unclear how many people will be affected by IO’s “staffing decisions.” The company says “we are fully committed to supporting those affected through this challenging transition.” IO also notes that it remains “100% committed to” Project Fantasy and promises that “this wonderful universe will see the light of day.”
目前尚不清楚有多少人会受到 IO“人事决定”的影响。该公司表示：“我们完全致力于支持受影响的员工度过这一充满挑战的过渡期。”IO 还指出，它仍然“100% 致力于”《Project Fantasy》，并承诺“这个美妙的宇宙终将面世”。
Jun 30 | Tom Warren
Xbox weighs canceling Blade game and shuttering Arkane Xbox 考虑取消《刀锋战士》游戏并关闭 Arkane 工作室
Microsoft is set to announce a wave of layoffs for its Xbox studios and employees next week. Sources familiar with Microsoft’s plans tell The Verge that the layoffs will lead to studio closures or spinoffs, potential mergers of studios, and canceled games.
微软定于下周宣布针对其 Xbox 工作室和员工的一轮裁员。熟悉微软计划的消息人士告诉 The Verge，此次裁员将导致工作室关闭或分拆、工作室合并以及游戏取消。
I understand Microsoft is currently weighing closing at least five studios, including the developers behind Marvel’s Blade. Sources tell me Microsoft wants to cancel Blade as part of a wave of cost cuts and job losses that are planned for the company’s Xbox gaming division.
据我了解，微软目前正在考虑关闭至少五家工作室，其中包括《漫威刀锋战士》的开发商。消息人士告诉我，作为公司 Xbox 游戏部门计划的一系列成本削减和裁员计划的一部分，微软希望取消《刀锋战士》。
Jun 25 | Jay Peters
Xbox prices spike another $100 or more Xbox 价格再次上涨 100 美元或更多
Microsoft is increasing the prices of Xbox consoles again. Starting August 1st, 512GB models will be $100 more expensive, while 1TB models will be $150 more expensive. This means that the Xbox Series S will start at $499.99, the Xbox Series X without a disc drive will start at $749.99, and the Series X with a disc drive will start at $799.99. Microsoft also says it will be “sunsetting” its 2TB Xbox Series X.
微软再次提高了 Xbox 主机的价格。从 8 月 1 日起，512GB 型号将涨价 100 美元，而 1TB 型号将涨价 150 美元。这意味着 Xbox Series S 的起售价将为 499.99 美元，无光驱版 Xbox Series X 起售价为 749.99 美元，带光驱版 Series X 起售价为 799.99 美元。微软还表示将“停产”其 2TB 版 Xbox Series X。
Microsoft last raised prices in October by $20 to $70 and says it had hoped to avoid further hikes. “Unfortunately, console storage and memory prices have increased by more than 2.5x and we expect another doubling by the fall of 2027,” Microsoft says in a blog post. “The entire consumer electronics industry is struggling with the current components crisis, but the effects are particularly hard on consoles. Unlike phones, computers, speakers, and other consumer devices, consoles are typically not sold at a profit, but instead for less than they cost to make.”
微软上次在 10 月份将价格上调了 20 至 70 美元，并表示曾希望避免进一步涨价。微软在博客文章中写道：“不幸的是，主机存储和内存价格已经上涨了超过 2.5 倍，我们预计到 2027 年秋季价格还会翻一番。整个消费电子行业都在与当前的组件危机作斗争，但对主机的影响尤为严重。与手机、电脑、音箱和其他消费设备不同，主机通常不是以盈利为目的销售的，而是以低于制造成本的价格出售。”
Jun 15 | Jay Peters and Tom Warren
Xbox is closing down Hellblade creator Ninja Theory Xbox 将关闭《地狱之刃》开发商 Ninja Theory
Xbox is closing down Ninja Theory, the studio behind the Hellblade series, a source tells The Verge. Staffers were told on a call on Monday about the closure, but they are hoping the studio will find a buyer. The closure comes as “several” Xbox studios at Microsoft, including Compulsion Games and Double Fine, are in “active negotiations” about spinning off, Bloomberg reports.
一位消息人士告诉 The Verge，Xbox 将关闭《地狱之刃》系列背后的工作室 Ninja Theory。员工在周一的电话会议上被告知了关闭的消息，但他们仍希望工作室能找到买家。据彭博社报道，此次关闭正值微软旗下的“几家”Xbox 工作室（包括 Compulsion Games 和 Double Fine）正在就分拆进行“积极谈判”之际。
The closure and negotiations follow Xbox CEO Asha Sharma and chief content officer Matt Booty warning last week of a “reset” at Xbox, laying out several challenges facing Xbox’s business — including that it had “over extended” with its studio system and the hardware component crisis is significantly driving up prices. Kotaku reported earlier on Monday that Microsoft was planning to shut down Compulsion, though it noted in an update that studio leadership was in “negotiations” with Microsoft.
此次关闭和谈判发生在上周 Xbox 首席执行官 Asha Sharma 和首席内容官 Matt Booty 警告 Xbox 将进行“重置”之后，他们列举了 Xbox 业务面临的几项挑战——包括其工作室系统“过度扩张”，以及硬件组件危机正在显著推高价格。Kotaku 周一早些时候报道称，微软计划关闭 Compulsion，但在更新中指出，工作室领导层正在与微软进行“谈判”。
Jun 15 | Jay Peters
Xbox turmoil continues with a studio closure and executive departures Xbox 动荡持续：工作室关闭与高管离职
Last week, Xbox boss Asha Sharma sent a memo warning of an Xbox “reset” ahead of expected layoffs, and today, Kotaku reported that Xbox plans to shut down Compulsion Games, the studio behind South of Midnight.
上周，Xbox 负责人 Asha Sharma 发送了一份备忘录，在预期裁员之前警告 Xbox 将进行“重置”。今天，Kotaku 报道称，Xbox 计划关闭《午夜之南》（South of Midnight）背后的工作室 Compulsion Games。
Since taking over in February, Sharma has made some big decisions, including cutting the price of Xbox Game Pass and making Gears of War: E-Day and Clockwork Revolution Xbox console exclusives. But in their “reset” memo, Sharma and chief content officer Matt Booty…
自 2 月接任以来，Sharma 做出了一些重大决定，包括降低 Xbox Game Pass 的价格，并将《战争机器：E-Day》和《发条革命》设为 Xbox 主机独占游戏。但在他们的“重置”备忘录中，Sharma 和首席内容官 Matt Booty……