Microsoft

·2026-07-22T10:01:16.518209+00:00·1

Is the Xbox division really going through a 'reset'?

Reading all these articles about the 4,800 layoffs and the 'reset' of the gaming division. It feels more like a demolition than a reset from where I'm standing. They talk about cost-cutting and restructuring, but it seems like they're gutting entire teams and projects. I've been hearing whispers for a while that things weren't stable, but this feels pretty drastic. The mention of Montgomery County specifically in the WUSA9 report is concerning too. Anyone have insights into what this 'reset' actually entails for the future of Xbox and its gaming efforts? Are they shifting focus entirely, or is this just a painful budget realignment? It's hard to see the long-term vision when so many people are being let go. Feels like loyalty means nothing anymore.

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Layoff Report

Anyone else in Xbox hit by the 7/15 layoffs in Montgomery County?

Just saw the news about the layoffs on 7/15, specifically mentioning Montgomery County and impacting the gaming division. I was part of that round and it's still sinking in. The news reports are a bit vague on the exact numbers and teams affected beyond 'gaming division'. Trying to connect with others who went through it, especially in the MC area. It feels isolating, and honestly, the communication from HR has been pretty minimal beyond the initial notification. Anyone want to share what they're hearing or how they're coping? It's a rough time, and knowing we're not alone would be helpful. Wondering about severance, outplacement services, and just the general feeling of what comes next. Feels like a huge blow to the gaming ambitions.

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·2026-07-22T10:01:14.182279+00:00·1

·2026-07-07T10:03:21.950391+00:00·2

Just got hit. Severance details and what to watch out for.

Yep, it's my turn. Announced today, effective end of month. Been in Developer Tools for about 4 years, mid-level engineer. They handed over the standard package info, but honestly, my brain is a bit fried right now. Has anyone been through this recently and found anything particularly tricky in the paperwork? Or any specific benefits that are worth fighting for? I know the main payout is usually fixed, but are there nuances with things like stock vesting or outplacement services? Trying to be proactive and not just sign the first thing they put in front of me. Any advice from people who've been in this position would be greatly appreciated.

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·2026-07-07T10:03:15.471182+00:00·2

Anyone else's manager suddenly super cagey about Q3 roadmaps?

I'm in the Cloud Infra org, been here about 6 years now. Lately, my manager has been really weird about sharing any details about what's coming next quarter. Used to be, we'd have planning meetings by now, or at least some preliminary discussions. Now? It's all 'focus on current priorities' and 'we'll share details when available.' Kinda feels like they're holding back information, maybe even actively restructuring things behind the scenes after the latest round. Anyone else experiencing this? What's your team/org like? Trying to gauge if this is a company-wide thing or just my specific leadership being extra tight-lipped.

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·2026-07-04T10:00:36.499157+00:00·2

Did anyone actually get more than the standard severance for the July 2nd layoffs?

So the news hit, and now everyone's talking about the packages. I know the standard offer is usually X weeks per year of service, plus continuation of benefits. But with these larger rounds, sometimes there's room for negotiation, or maybe different tiers based on role or tenure. I'm in a senior individual contributor role, almost 10 years at MS. I'm trying to figure out if it's worth pushing back on the initial offer if/when it comes. Has anyone had experience pushing for more in similar situations? What did you focus on? Any specific clauses in the agreement you found leverage with? Just trying to get a sense of what's realistic before I even get the official word.

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·2026-07-04T10:00:35.064854+00:00·2

Anyone else feeling completely blindsided by this July 2nd news?

Just saw the Fox Business report about the 5000 layoffs. Honestly, I thought things were stabilizing. My team hasn't had any major reorgs in months, and we were actually hiring for a few critical roles. Now I'm just sitting here wondering if my specific group is on the chopping block. I've been in the same division for 7 years, working on enterprise solutions, and this just feels like a punch to the gut. My manager has been quiet, and usually, we get some heads-up or at least rumors if something this big is coming down the pipeline. Has anyone heard anything more concrete, even whispers? Trying not to spiral, but it's hard.

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Interview

Seriously, how are people already interviewing?

Layoffs hit my team last Tuesday. About 15% of us were cut. Senior PM, been here 5 years. And I'm seeing people on Blind already posting about getting second interviews at Google/Amazon/Meta. How??? I'm still trying to process everything, figure out my finances, update my resume with the actual project impact, and you guys are already acing technical screens? Am I doing something wrong? Should I be networking like crazy right now? I feel so behind. It's like everyone else is prepared for this exact moment, and I was just blindsided. Any advice for someone feeling completely overwhelmed and not job-ready?

·2026-06-28T10:01:10.378351+00:00·2

severance package negotiation - any success stories?

Just got the news yesterday, part of the ~? cuts. Been with MSFT for 7 years, SWE on the Azure team. My severance package feels... standard? Like the bare minimum they can offer. They gave me 12 weeks base, plus 2 weeks per year. Pretty standard for my tenure. But I was hoping for more given the recent performance reviews were all strong. Anyone actually managed to negotiate a better deal? Did you have a counter offer ready, or just push back? Trying to figure out if it's even worth the effort or just accept and move on. Any tips or war stories would be appreciated. Really trying to stay calm but this is a lot.

·2026-06-28T10:01:08.586804+00:00·2

Interview

Has anyone successfully navigated an internal transfer post-layoff?

So, the recent cuts hit my old team pretty hard, and thankfully I landed on my feet elsewhere in the org. But I'm still seeing friends and former colleagues struggling. I'm curious if anyone here has gone through a similar situation and managed to snag an internal role *after* being impacted? How did you approach it? Did you leverage your network aggressively? Was HR any help? I'm in a pretty stable team now, but I feel for everyone still looking. Any advice on how to best help my network or just generally what the internal hiring landscape looks like right now would be appreciated.

·2026-06-16T10:00:34.941761+00:00·2

·2026-06-16T10:00:33.197187+00:00·2

Can't shake this feeling about upcoming org changes...

Hey folks, been at MS for about 6 years now, currently in a mid-level SWE role on a cloud infra team. Lately, there's been a weird vibe in the air. We've had a couple of 'all hands' that felt a bit more scripted than usual, and my manager has been super cagey about our Q3 roadmap, just saying 'we're still finalizing priorities'. Usually, we have this locked down by now. I'm starting to worry it's not just about shifting focus, but actual headcount changes. Anyone else in a similar boat or hearing anything concrete? Not trying to spread FUD, just trying to gauge the temperature.

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Rant

Layoff Survivor's Guilt hitting hard...

Made it through whatever happened last week in my org (PM in Experiences & Devices), but a lot of good people didn't. Seeing their names gone from the directory is just... awful. Honestly, I'm struggling to focus and feel like I should be doing *something*, but I don't even know what. Anyone else feeling this way? How are you coping? Is it just better to keep my head down and be grateful I still have a job, or is there something more I should be doing to support those who were impacted?

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·2026-06-01T10:02:07.51125+00:00·2

·2026-06-01T10:02:05.499603+00:00·2

Stock vesting cliff coming up... should I be worried?

My 4-year cliff is coming up in a couple of months and I'm starting to sweat. I'm a SWE in Azure and while things seem okay on the surface, there's definitely a weird vibe in the air. Projects are getting cancelled or silently shelved, and my manager seems more stressed than usual. I've poured a lot into this company the last few years and the thought of losing those shares right before they vest is making me sick. Should I start polishing up the resume and jumping ship ASAP, or am I just being paranoid? Anyone else in a similar situation?

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Rant

Rant: Overworked and underappreciated!

I'm so sick of this place. The workload has been insane lately. They keep piling on more projects and responsibilities, but no extra resources. My team is completely burned out. The VP keeps talking about 'doing more with less' – yeah, less sleep, less time with my family, less sanity! It feels like they're trying to push people out without actually having to lay them off. I'm actively looking for a new job, but the market is tough. Just needed to vent. Thanks for listening (or reading, I guess).

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·2026-05-28T08:00:56.348085+00:00·2

·2026-05-28T08:00:53.150733+00:00·2

Severance package - what to expect?

Hypothetically speaking, if there were layoffs at Microsoft, what could someone with 5 years experience in a software engineering role expect in terms of a severance package? I'm trying to get a general idea. Is it based on tenure? Performance reviews? I've heard rumors of different packages depending on the org. Any insight would be appreciated. Trying to financially plan ahead, just in case.

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Anyone else feeling uneasy lately?

I've been at Microsoft for almost 8 years, and I can't shake this feeling that something big is about to happen. I'm a PM in the Azure org, and things have been…quiet. Too quiet. My manager keeps saying everything's fine, but I've seen this movie before. Remember 2017? It was all smiles and team-building exercises right before the hammer dropped. I'm not saying layoffs are definitely coming, but I'm definitely updating my resume and reaching out to my network. Anyone else feeling the same way? Maybe it's just paranoia, but I'd rather be prepared.

·2026-05-28T08:00:50.069259+00:00·2

Rant

Venting: Seriously considering leaving before the axe falls

I'm so done with this constant anxiety. Every few months it's the same cycle of rumors, hushed conversations, and vague assurances from leadership. I'm a PM on the Office team, been here for 3 years. Honestly, I'm good at what I do, but the constant threat of layoffs is exhausting. I'm starting to think it's better to jump ship now and find a company that values its employees and isn't constantly looking for ways to cut costs. Anyone else feeling the same way? Considering just taking a chance on a smaller startup. Screw the stock options and 'prestige', I just want some job security for once!

·2026-05-24T05:46:44.584731+00:00·2

Layoff Report

Heard whispers about potential cuts in the gaming division - anyone know anything?

A friend of a friend works in HR for the gaming division, and they mentioned some rumblings about potential restructuring and layoffs, possibly targeting some of the older studios. Apparently, it's all still very hush-hush, and nothing is confirmed, but it's enough to make me nervous. I've been with Xbox Game Studios for 5 years now, and I really love what I do. If anyone has any credible information, even if it's just a gut feeling, please share. Trying to figure out if I should be worried or just chalk it up to the usual Microsoft paranoia.

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·2026-05-24T05:46:42.134392+00:00·2