Full Breakdown
Story Director for *Gears of War: E-Day* Laid Off Amid Xbox Restructuring
By Drooid · · How we work
Layoff of Gears of War: E-Day Story Director
Juan Vaca, who joined The Coalition in 2022 and spent more than four years shaping *Gears of War: E-Day*, confirmed on LinkedIn that he was part of the latest round of Microsoft layoffs. His departure comes just days before the title’s early-access launch and the scheduled global release on October 6.
Xbox Restructuring and Studio Changes
Microsoft’s ongoing “reset” of the Xbox brand resulted in 268 staff members being cut across several studios. The cuts affected veteran talent, including Vaca and Halo Studios’ cinematic director Josh Daniels. In addition to individual layoffs, Microsoft reorganized multiple studios: Rare and World’s Edge were placed under Activision’s control; Playground and Turn 10 merged to focus on *Fable* and *Forza*; Obsidian now reports to Bethesda; Halo Studios was drastically downsized with future development moving to Activision; and Ninja Theory faces possible closure after a failed ownership deal.
Implications for E-Day Release
The timing of Vaca’s layoff raises uncertainty about post-launch support for *Gears of War: E-Day*. While the game entered early access a week before its scheduled October 6 launch, Microsoft has not detailed its long-term plans for The Coalition or whether the series will continue its narrative arc beyond this title.
Official Statements & Responses
Microsoft’s layoff announcement framed the reductions as part of a broader restructuring effort aimed at consolidating studios and refocusing development priorities.
Verbatim Quote
“I am part of this round of Microsoft layoffs and am open to new opportunities in games/film/tv. If your team needs a director/storyteller please reach out.” — Juan Vaca, a story director at Gears of War developer The Coalition