Microsoft says it is laying off about 9,000 workers, its second mass layoff in months and its largest in more than two years. The tech giant began sending out layoff notices Wednesday that hit the company's Xbox video game business and other divisions.

These changes come at a time when we have more players, games, and gaming hours than ever before,” said Xbox head Phil Spencer in an email to staff.

Microsoft Corp.’s gaming division began informing employees of job cuts on Wednesday morning, initiating the process of widespread layoffs that staff have been expecting for the last week.Microsoft’s Stockholm-based King division,