August 7, 2025 – According to a report from Tech4gamers on the 6th, Microsoft has laid off a total of 15,000 employees this year, a move that has drawn widespread criticism. Some loyal users have even gone as far as to boycott Xbox in response.
It’s said that Microsoft’s main motivation behind this decision is to ramp up its investment in artificial intelligence. However, even if the intention is justifiable, the cost of these layoffs remains significant. Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella openly admitted that he feels deeply remorseful about such a decision.
In an official blog post, Nadella wrote that the issue of layoffs has been constantly on his mind and is one of the most difficult decisions the company has had to make.
Before delving into other matters, I’d like to address something that weighs heavily on my heart and is also on the minds of many of you: the recent layoffs. Decisions like these are among the toughest calls we have to make.
Nadella also expressed that the laid-off employees were not just colleagues but friends who had stood shoulder to shoulder with Microsoft through numerous important milestones. He regretted the layoffs but extended his gratitude and best wishes to these former employees.
Despite the layoffs, Nadella pointed out that Microsoft’s overall headcount has remained largely unchanged. Moreover, some outstanding talents within the company and across the industry have received unprecedented recognition and incentives.
“Our overall employee numbers haven’t seen much change. Meanwhile, a portion of talents within Microsoft and the broader industry are getting unprecedented attention and rewards,” he said.
It’s worth noting that shortly after the latest round of layoffs, Microsoft’s market value soared past the $4 trillion mark.
