New details indicate that Microsoft’s latest Xbox restructuring has affected World’s Edge heavily, with 268 employees reportedly made redundant and nearly half the studio’s staff potentially dismissed. The studio’s next project was allegedly cancelled as it moved from Xbox’s direct control to Activision, although Age of Empires’ future stewardship does not appear to have been formally ended.

World’s Edge has primarily overseen Age of Empires and Age of Mythology rather than developing them alone, working with partners including Forgotten Empires and Relic Entertainment. The cuts form part of a wider Xbox “reset” led by Asha Sharma: about 1,600 jobs were eliminated in July, with the total expected to reach roughly 3,200 and potentially include all of Ninja Theory.