The Coalition Staff Fear Layoffs After Gears of War: E-Day Launch

Staff at The Coalition, the Xbox studio behind Gears of War: E-Day, fear layoffs immediately after the game launches and before bonuses are due, according to a report from Eurogamer. The report also states that the game's story director, Juan Vaca, has departed the studio.

Eurogamer spoke to multiple anonymous sources at The Coalition's Vancouver studio for the article. The sources described concerns that cuts could arrive once development on the imminent release wraps, ahead of bonus payments.

The anxiety follows a turbulent period for Microsoft's gaming arm. In July, new Xbox CEO Asha Sharma announced 3,200 job cuts across the division, with roughly half made alongside that announcement.

Two weeks ago, Xbox made more sweeping cuts: Halo Studios was drastically reduced with Activision taking control of the franchise, Rare and World's Edge were moved under Activision, Obsidian was absorbed by Bethesda, and Ninja Theory entered a consultation process for potential closure. At least 268 more roles were eliminated in the latest round.

Before those layoffs, The Coalition developers were cautiously optimistic they had been spared because they were working on an imminent release and the studio was seen as one of Xbox's "good children." But past gut-punches such as Tango Gameworks' closure after Hi-Fi Rush were still on employees' minds, one source said in July.