Kinda Funny Games Daily: Video Games News Podcast
Kinda Funny Games Daily: Video Games News Podcast

Activision Takes Over Halo, Xbox Fires 268 - Kinda Funny Games Daily 09.22.26

September 22, 2026

AI Summary

5 min read

Xbox Resets Again: 268 More Layoffs, Halo Moves to Activision, and Studios Get Reorganized

In a memo sent to Xbox employees on September 22, 2026, Matt Booty announced the elimination of 268 roles across Halo Studios, other first-party studios, and Xbox Game Studios management. The cuts bring Xbox roughly three-quarters of the way through the 3,200-person restructuring announced in July. But the layoffs were only part of the story: the memo also detailed a sweeping studio reorganization that moves Halo development to Activision, shifts Obsidian under Bethesda, consolidates Playground and Turn 10, and reveals that Ninja Theory's proposed sale fell through, putting the studio on track for closure.

The Reorganization: Who Goes Where

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What you'll learn

  • 1 (04:08) **Matt Booty Memo: 268 Roles Cut, Major Studio Reorg** - Tim reads the full internal memo from Xbox's Matt Booty announcing 268 layoffs across Halo Studios, first-party studios, and XGS central functions, plus a sweeping reorganisation.
  • 2 (06:55) **Mathing the Layoffs and the "Osha Xbox"** - The panel breaks down the numbers and the broader context of the restructuring.
  • 3 (12:27) **The Fall of Ninja Theory: A Case Study** - The panel dissects what went wrong with Ninja Theory, from a beloved indie darling to a studio facing closure.
  • 4 (20:38) **Extending the Argument to Arkane and Double Fine** - The panel applies the same logic to other talented Xbox studios facing uncertain futures.
  • 5 (24:50) **Why It's Too Late for Xbox** - The panel answers a super chat question about why the situation is so dire for the Xbox brand.
  • 6 (28:32) **Is Halo Still the Biggest Conversation?** - The panel debates the current relevance and future of the Halo franchise.
  • 7 (32:04) **The Two-Headed Monster of Halo** - The panel analyzes the core problem with modern Halo: it tries to be both a campaign and multiplayer game in one package.

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Show Notes

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Activision is taking over Halo, Obsidian is now under Bethesda, and more restructures and layoffs under Xbox.


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Time Stamps - 00:00:00 - Start
00:02:10 - Continuing Our Reset - Matt Booty @ Xbox
00:38:12 - Ad
00:41:35 - They selling everything?
01:08:00 - Bethesda
01:32:00 - Ad
00:36:00 - SuperChats & You‘re Wrong

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Kinda Funny Games Daily: Video Games News Podcast