Four days after Gears of War: E-Day crossed the finish line of development, the man who shaped its story found himself without a job. Juan Vaca, narrative director at Microsoft's The Coalition studio, was swept up in a broader wave of corporate workforce reductions — a reminder that in the modern games industry, the completion of creative work and the security of the creator are not always the same thing. His departure raises quiet but persistent questions about how studios value the people who build their worlds once those worlds are built.
Microsoft Cuts Gears of War: E-Day Narrative Director Days After Game Goes Gold
Juan Vaca lost his job as part of Microsoft layoffs shortly after completing major development work on Gears of War: E-Day.