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Xbox Cuts 268 Staff Days Before Gears E-Day Launch

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Story summary
  • Microsoft Xbox laid off Gears of War: E-Day story director Juan Vaca.
  • The layoff occurred a week before the game's early-access launch on 6 October 2026.
  • Vaca had celebrated the game going gold five days earlier.
  • The restructuring cut 268 Xbox staff, including Halo Studios director Josh Daniels.
  • Rare and World's Edge moved to Activision while Playground merged with Turn 10 for Fable and Forza.