http://www.ctvnews.ca/business/microsoft-layoffs-stephen-elop-s-job-cuts-memo-1.1918689

"there will be limited change for the Surface, Xbox hardware, PPI/meetings or next generation teams."

Ok guys? Thread paranoia debunked. Move on.

Them saying hardware specifically actually just opens up a ton of more speculation.  

Actually they confirmed that the Xbox TV division is beign closed. No biggie as far as gamers are concerned. And the Halo projects are still on.

Xbox TV might not be a biggie for gamers.  What about things closer to game making and development?  Outside of saying Xbox isn't their core they remain very quiet on if they will be recieving any of those 18000 cuts. Xbox TV is only 200 ppl.  

MS made a huge mistake when they announced it and they are trying to spin that and make it sound as though that's no longer an issue.. they continue to pull 180's and IMO are a complete clusterfuck right now.

Despite the PS4 not having as many good games (according to MS fanboys) as the XB1 the PS4 continues to murder it in sales despite MS tossing in games and a cheaper entry point (well on par with the PS4 now anyway)... Sony has brought it with Indie games, last gen MS fanboys were all over this! Now that Sony is Indie games are now not as cool. MS seems to be changing it's mind and bringing back some of the crappy policies that got it into this hole to begin with! This letter seems to be nothing but PR and the letter the other day distancing the Xbox brand from the rest of MS seems to be more telling. The Xbox brand right now is in trouble.. MS could sink money into it but that also makes no sense. MS did not get this big by wasting money.. they have shareholders and they need to be kept happy... a division losing money does not make one happy.

I think the final decision whether or not to continue Xbox operation is not yet made, but the X1 needs to perform at least in the US. The X1 just needs games, good and exclusive games.

In the rest of the world, the X1 will have a hard struggle to overtake Wii-U in total sales and it is not yet clear if this can be done at all.

Its not core and now they are open about it. Some want it gone and Billi is ok with what ever happens.

Xbox consoles is pointless market for MS to be in, xbox a steam like system for PC tablet Moible is what they should be doing and will likely in the future. Fighting Sony in hardware is futile and pointless and simply costs to damn much. Its bad business. They will bail out sooner not later.

It already wasn't at the end of the 360 lifecycle.

Investors have been pissed at MS console business for a while.

Shouldn't the question be how long before Xbox fans realise Xbox has never been integral to MS's long term vision?

It may not just be the TV side of it though.

This may be the end of the MS gravy train to third parties for exclusive content etc and other money-hatting deals.