The head of graphics at Xbox has posted a job ad that blatantly shows his inability to read the room.
July opened with devastating news for Microsoft employees, as the company laid off 9,000 workers across the board—a significant number coming from Xbox and the gaming division. Studios and game projects were shut down, veteran developers were let go, and amid reports that these layoffs were directly tied to Microsoft’s push for greater investment in AI, both Microsoft and Xbox leadership repeatedly failed to read the room.
While rumors swirled that Microsoft and Xbox were determined to replace jobs with AI agents, a tone-deaf and apparently automated invitation was sent to developers, inviting them to a Gamescom roundtable about how AI tools can help with game development. Contempt for Xbox, Microsoft, and the executives who kept their jobs only increased when an Xbox executive producer suggested that laid-off employees turn to ChatGPT to cope with their dismissal.
At least Matt Turnbull, executive producer, tried to help affected employees in his LinkedIn post. But Mike Matsel, Xbox Graphics’ lead developer, took it a step further into tone-deaf territory. Matsel posted an open call for two positions on the Xbox Graphics team, specifying that they were looking for people with experience in device drivers, GPU performance, or related validation and engineering systems. He shared links to the job ads and told applicants to message him directly if the listings on the Microsoft website appeared closed.
What makes Matsel’s post even more bizarre is that he attached an AI-generated image—showing someone working at a desktop, seemingly staring into the void, with the back of a monitor visible. Many people in the comments criticized Matsel for the post, with some calling the image “AI slop.” It’s worth asking whether Turnbull and Matsel were being serious or simply baiting outrage with their posts.
Either way, it’s not a good look: if they were serious, it shows a complete inability to read the room or communicate with any sense of empathy or opportunity. If they were simply trying to provoke reactions, it’s both surprising and disappointing that two high-ranking executives would find enjoyment in a situation that has devastated hundreds of former colleagues and their families.
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