Some developers of Gears of War: E-Day worry that they may be laid off after the game's launch or reassigned to Activision as part of Microsoft's team restructuring. They are also concerned that if they lose their jobs before the bonus payout in late October, they may not receive the bonuses. These concerns stem from anonymous employees' expectations regarding future arrangements, with no new layoff decisions announced yet.
Interviewees stated that the game's narrative director and several developers were dismissed one week before launch, heightening the team's anxiety over staffing. An anonymous developer said the team is now too afraid to celebrate the game's release immediately, preferring to wait until three months after launch when their jobs seem more stable.
According to interviewees, the team expects to receive bonuses tied to Metacritic scores by late October, but employees worry that if they have already been laid off by then, they may lose eligibility under the relevant rules. Some developers further suspect that Microsoft will conduct layoffs before the bonuses are paid; this is merely speculation from interviewees, with no official plans announced.