Microsoft shuts the door on The Garage, the central program behind its hackathon and maker spaces
Microsoft is ending The Garage as a centralized companywide program after 17 years. The initiative featured dedicated physical spaces across multiple locations (Redmond, Vancouver, Beijing and others) where employees could work on side projects and the company ran its Global Hackathon. Microsoft frames the closure as a cultural shift under CEO Satya Nadella, claiming innovation now happens continuously within teams rather than in dedicated spaces. The move reflects Microsoft's broader spending priorities, with significant investment in AI infrastructure while reducing costs elsewhere.
Key points
- 17-year Garage program being wound down across all locations
- Microsoft consolidating innovation into team-based workflows
- Part of cost restructuring amid heavy AI infrastructure spending
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