More job losses hit Microsoft gaming

Following its announcement late last week that

5,000 jobs are to be lost

in the next 18 months, Microsoft has over the weekend confirmed a number of new cuts.

The first high-profile casualty of the cull seems to be the head of Microsoft’s Games for Windows PC gaming initiative, Chris Early, with the exec telling VentureBeat that his time at Microsoft has come to a close”.

Games for Windows Live was Microsoft’s attempt to bring many elements of its Xbox Live platform, including online multiplayer, friends lists and Achievements, to PC.

In addition, following the rumours that Flight and Train Simulator developer ACES was to close, the platform holder has confirmed that news, stating that the decision was made to align our people against our highest priorities.”

Further bad news also comes from VentureBeat, which claims that 30 per cent of Microsoft’s games testing team has been let go.