Microsoft is looking to cut over a quarter of the whole company in new voluntary buyout program

gamesradar.com Oct 26, 2026

Microsoft is looking to cut over a quarter of the whole company in new voluntary buyout program

Curated by Shubham · TechCapsules · Oct 26, 2026

AI-summarised brief · reviewed before publication

Microsoft announced a voluntary buyout program offering up to 60,000 employees—about 27% of its workforce—financial support and career planning to leave the company. The initiative follows earlier buyouts that attracted roughly 3,000 participants and adds to layoffs of 6,000 in May 2025, 9,000 in July 2025, and 4,800 in July 2026. Xbox has been heavily impacted, with 1,600 positions cut in 2026 and another 1,600 pending. CEO Satya Nadella praised the “streamlining” as a positive step.

💡 Why It Matters

· The scale of the buyout underscores Microsoft’s aggressive restructuring to prioritize AI, reshaping its talent landscape and signaling a shift in corporate strategy.

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Is Microsoft preparing for more layoffs? 60,000 employees just got buyout offers

Sean Endicott writes for Windows Central, covering Windows 11, Surface hardware, Microsoft 365, AI, apps and the broader Windows ecosystem. Since 2017 he has produced over a thousand articles on Microsoft’s software and hardware, including breaking news, analysis and opinion. His reporting spans Windows updates, Surface launches, Microsoft 365 changes and the company’s AI focus. Endicott also authors the weekly “Windows Wrap” column, curating the most significant stories and examining their relevance to Windows and the PC market. He holds a First Class degree in Broadcast Journalism from Nottingham Trent University and previously worked in journalism and media production. Outside tech, he is an award‑winning American football coach in Nottingham, locally, named BAFCA Youth Coach of the Year in 2024.

💡 Windows Central’s seasoned Microsoft beat gives readers a uniquely informed lens on any upcoming corporate shifts.

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