Skydance orders five-day office return, opens voluntary buyouts

Skydance Corporation has mandated a five-day-a-week return to office for its entire workforce and launched a Voluntary Buyout Program (VBO) for eligible employees, according to an email to staff from CEO David Ellison and co-CEO Ynon Kreiz seen by Vertical Slice.

The move lands weeks after Paramount and Warner Bros. Discovery completed their $111 billion merger earlier this month and began operating under the Skydance banner. As part of the consolidation, Paramount Games Studio and WB Games were folded into a single unit under Tony Driscoll's management — meaning the RTO mandate and buyout terms reach the combined gaming organization directly.

Ellison and Kreiz framed the office policy as a benefit, not a burden. They wrote that a five-day in-office policy across the entire company "is in the best interest" of staff.

"We've seen the benefits firsthand at Paramount, and we want every part of Skydance to share in them," the email read. "The best ideas come from people in the same room, sharing perspectives, challenging one another and solving problems. Being together isn't just about showing up. It's about inspiring one another, learning and coaching, forming friendships and having access to the casual conversations that spark something great."

How will the rollout work?

The policy won't land everywhere at once. Vertical Slice reports the return-to-office mandate will be "rolled out in phases based on location," with employees promised "ample notice" before any changes take effect.

Remote workers catch a partial break. Skydance said it "may revisit remote roles" as the phased process unfolds, and staff in fully remote positions will not face "immediate change." No dates for the phases appear in the email.

What does the buyout offer mean for staff?

Alongside the RTO order, Skydance set out the terms of its Voluntary Buyout Program — a structured exit for employees who no longer see a place for themselves in the merged company.

"As we bring our teams together, we recognise that not everyone will see their future here and we respect that," the email read. "To give eligible employees the option to move on in a way that works for them, we are introducing a Voluntary Buyout Program."

The timing isn't accidental. Voluntary exits cost less than layoffs, and they thin headcount before integration decisions get harder. Earlier this week, Microsoft offered voluntary exit to up to 60,000 employees, including Xbox staff — a signal that big media and tech operators increasingly prefer the volunteer line before the involuntary one.

What did Ellison promise at the merger?

The buyout and RTO squeeze fit a pattern Ellison flagged from the start. In the initial merger announcement, the CEO said the deal would force "difficult decisions," including "changes and impacts."

"Bringing together two companies of this size and complexity will require difficult decisions. There will be changes, and there will be impacts. I'm not going to pretend otherwise," Ellison said.

For the combined games unit under Driscoll, the immediate operational questions are concrete: which roles qualify for the VBO, when each location's RTO phase begins, and how many developers take the exit before the calendar forces their hand. The phased rollout dates and VBO eligibility terms are the details worth watching as Skydance turns policy into headcount.