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.

News of further job cuts trickled out slowly as other units of Microsoft Gaming, such as Call of Duty studios Raven Software and Sledgehammer Games as well as Halo Studios and Forza Motorsport developer Turn 10 Studios, also announced workforce reductions, according to the people familiar.