More Sad News: Layoffs Hit Ubisoft, Meta, Unity, and Major Nelson in Early 2026It’s only two weeks into the new year, and the gaming industry is already facing another wave of heartbreaking layoffs. I saw this in my inbox via GamesBeat updates and Destin’s coverage—it’s tough to process.

• Ubisoft is cutting around 55 roles at Massive Entertainment (the team behind Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora and The Division) and Ubisoft Stockholm as part of ongoing cost reductions.
• Meta is slashing about 10% of its Reality Labs division (roughly 1,500 people), with a shift away from metaverse/VR focus. This includes closing three studios: Twisted Pixel Games, Sanzaru Games, and Armature Studio.
• Unity continues its restructuring with more cuts, and notably, Xbox legend Larry Hryb (Major Nelson) has been laid off after joining the company in 2024 (just 18 months in).

These aren’t just numbers—they’re talented devs, creators, and community figures who’ve given so much to the games we love. The industry has been brutal these past few years, and it’s exhausting to keep seeing this.My heart goes out to everyone affected. Hoping they land on their feet soon, and that 2026 brings some stability.

https://www.ign.com/articles/ubisoft-layoffs-continue-with-55-staff-at-the-division-studio-massive-and-ubisoft-stockholm-now-impacted

https://80.lv/articles/xbox-legend-larry-major-nelson-hryb-laid-off-from-unity

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2026-01-13/meta-begins-jobs-cuts-after-shifting-focus-from-metaverse-to-phones