Age of Empires Studio World’s Edge Loses Nearly Half Its Staff in Xbox Restructuring

Microsoft’s sweeping Xbox reorganization yesterday included moving the Age of Empires developer World’s Edge under Activision’s control—and according to departing creative director Adam Isgreen, the transition came with significant layoffs.

Isgreen, who spent over 16 years at Microsoft across roles including work on Ori, Minecraft, and the Age of Empires franchise, confirmed on ResetEra forums that “just under half the studio was let go—myself included.” The initial Xbox announcement did not specify staffing impacts at World’s Edge, making Isgreen’s account the first public confirmation of the scope of cuts at the RTS studio.

What Changed at World’s Edge

World’s Edge was not spared in yesterday’s broader Xbox restructuring, which also saw the closure of Ninja Theory, the Halo franchise move to Activision, mergers of Playground and Turn10 studios, and shifts in control of Obsidian and Rare. The studio’s transition to Activision oversight now comes with roughly half its workforce no longer in place.

Isgreen’s departure marks a notable loss for the studio. Beyond his long tenure at Microsoft, he helped ship major titles and franchises including Killer Instinct, Fable, Crackdown, ReCore, and multiple Age of Empires releases and expansions. “I didn’t think I’d be working on RTS games again years after their first ‘heyday’, but am I ever proud of what our studio team and partners were able to do with the series and juice the genre’s return,” he wrote on LinkedIn.

Why It Matters

Age of Empires IV launched in 2021 to a rebuilt and engaged audience, marking a successful revival of the real-time strategy genre after years of dormancy. The franchise had become a flagship title for Xbox’s first-party portfolio and the broader case that RTS games could still reach modern audiences. The loss of creative leadership and half the development team raises questions about the franchise’s near-term direction and whether Activision’s oversight will maintain the momentum Isgreen’s team had built.

Isgreen acknowledged the setback plainly: “I am of course disappointed that this is the way the time with World’s Edge and Age ends for myself and many of my talented teammates that were also impacted. We had some great plans for what’s next—and I hope the team that remains can rise to the occasion down the line.”