Microsoft is cutting 1,900 jobs in its video game division

Microsoft said Thursday it would cut 1,900 positions in its video game division, including at Activision Blizzard, which it acquired three months ago for $69 billion.

The job cuts will take place at video game giant Activision, the maker of popular games like Call of Duty and Guitar Hero, and at Xbox, according to a memo from Phil Spencer, the head of Microsoft Gaming, which was obtained by The New York Times.

The cuts amount to a nearly 9 percent reduction in Microsoft's 22,000-person video game team.

“Looking ahead, we will continue to invest in areas that will grow our business and support our strategy to bring more games to more players around the world,” Mr. Spencer said in the memo.

Microsoft, which is neck-and-neck with Apple as the world's largest publicly traded company, completed its acquisition of Activision Blizzard in October after a year of regulatory hurdles.

So does the head of Activision Blizzard, Mike Ybarra announced on the social media platform X, that Thursday would be his last day at the company.

“After more than 20 years at Microsoft and with the acquisition of Activision Blizzard behind me, it's time for me to (again) become Blizzard's biggest fan from the outside,” Mr. Ybarra wrote.

Microsoft did not immediately respond to a request for comment.