Halo Studios may have been reduced to as few as 20 employees following Microsoft’s latest round of Xbox layoffs, according to a new unverified claim.

Microsoft recently confirmed major changes to the Halo franchise, with Activision taking responsibility for development of the next Halo game. A smaller Halo Studios team will remain to support the existing games and community.

Exactly how small that team has become hasn’t officially been revealed, but a new claim suggests the cuts were extensive.

Halo Studios Could Be Down to Around 20 Employees

Halo professional player aPureGangster, cited by Technical Halo, claims that only around 20 employees remain at Halo Studios, saying the information came from a “very, very reputable source.”

That number hasn’t been independently verified and Microsoft hasn’t disclosed the studio’s remaining headcount.

However, Windows Central’s Jez Corden separately reported that Halo Studios was facing layoffs numbering in the hundreds.

Numerous former employees have also publicly announced their departures. One particularly unusual case involved cinematic director Josh Daniels, who said he was promoted only to be laid off the following day.

Activision Is Taking Over Halo’s Future

Microsoft has confirmed that Activision is assembling a new purpose-built team to develop the next Halo game, separate from its ongoing Call of Duty development.

Activision president Rob Kostich has said the goal is to create the “greatest Halo game ever” while remaining faithful to what made players love the franchise.

Halo Studios will continue operating in a reduced capacity, but if the reported 20-person figure is accurate, the September restructuring represents a dramatic reduction for the team that previously led development of the franchise.

For now, the exact number of employees remaining at Halo Studios remains unconfirmed.