US Senator Bernie Sanders has publicly voiced his disapproval of Microsoft's recent actions concerning its Xbox division, specifically targeting the company's decision to lay off 3,200 employees alongside price increases for its consoles. Sanders, known for his critical stance on large corporations, highlighted Microsoft's substantial profits and executive compensation in a statement on X.
"Last year, Microsoft made $101 billion in profits, got a $12.5 billion tax break from Trump and paid its CEO $96 million," Sanders wrote. "This year, it’s raising the price of an Xbox by $150 and eliminating 3,200 jobs. Please don’t tell me corporate tax breaks create jobs. It never trickles down."
This criticism extends beyond the recent layoffs and price adjustments. In 2022, Sanders, alongside fellow senators Elizabeth Warren, Cory Booker, and Sheldon Whitehouse, questioned Bobby Kotick's compensation package following Microsoft's acquisition of Activision Blizzard. The senator's commentary suggests a broader concern about corporate oligarchy and the distribution of wealth, using the gaming industry's significant financial activities as a point of contention. The Federal Trade Commission's prior opposition to the Activision Blizzard buyout, and its subsequent acknowledgement that Microsoft's actions align with warned-against behaviors, adds context to ongoing scrutiny of major tech and gaming mergers and their impacts on employment and consumer costs.