Xbox's push toward inclusive gaming has taken a direct hit. As the company carried out a fresh wave of cuts on July 6 that eliminated 1,600 jobs, staff working on accessibility appear to have suffered disproportionately, according to accounts shared by affected employees. Elisabeth Whyte, who served as senior user researcher for accessibility at ZeniMax Media, revealed on Bluesky the same day that she was among those let go. She described the accessibility group as having taken an outsized blow, noting that several members of Bethesda's User Research Team were also cut.
Accessibility Staff Describe Widespread Cuts
Whyte characterized the damage to the accessibility function as severe, saying the broader team had been hit hard across the board. She did not give an exact headcount of how many colleagues lost their roles, but her framing suggested the group had been effectively gutted. Adding to the picture, Whyte used LinkedIn to amplify a post from Zach Clothier, who held the position of accessibility test lead within Microsoft's gaming accessibility testing operation. Clothier confirmed he was exiting the company after close to three years in that role. Between the two accounts, it remains unclear exactly how many accessibility-focused employees were let go in total, but the departures point to a meaningful thinning of the team.
The Timing
The cuts land squarely within Disability Pride Month, an observance dedicated to recognizing the disability community's history and contributions — a coincidence that has not gone unnoticed given the nature of the roles affected.
Microsoft's Response
Asked about the situation, a Microsoft representative told GameSpot that the company remains committed to accessibility work despite the reorganization. "Accessibility remains a priority for Xbox," the spokesperson said, adding that the goal of building more accessible gaming experiences hasn't shifted even as the team's makeup has changed. The Accessibility Team's output includes hardware like the Adaptive Controller and its add-ons, along with in-game accessibility settings found in titles such as Forza Horizon 6 — work that has made Xbox a reference point for inclusive design in the industry.
Part of a Larger Restructuring
The accessibility losses are one piece of a much larger contraction at Xbox. The July 6 round of 1,600 layoffs is set to be followed by another 1,600 cuts over the coming year. Beyond individual roles, entire studios have been affected: Ninja Theory and Undead Labs are being sold off to an as-yet-unidentified buyer. Arkane Studios' status remains unresolved, while id Software and ZeniMax have both shed personnel as those studios pivot toward concentrating on their larger, more established franchises. With no confirmed total on how many accessibility-focused employees departed, the full scope of the damage to Xbox's inclusive-design efforts is still coming into focus. Microsoft insists the mission continues, but the loss of experienced researchers and testers raises real questions about how that commitment holds up in practice.
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