job losses Archives

AppWizard

June 4, 2025

RuneScape maker Jagex confirms layoffs

Jagex has confirmed layoffs as part of a restructuring aimed at enhancing focus on RuneScape games and community growth. The layoffs primarily affected roles not directly involved in game development or player interaction, with some exceptions within the RuneScape team. Liam "Mod Hooli" Ashley, head of community and social, stated that the company's commitment to growing and investing in RuneScape 3 remains unchanged, and the game's roadmap will not be affected by these job reductions. The studio is prioritizing support for those impacted by the layoffs. This restructuring occurs under new CEO Jon Bellamy, following multiple rounds of layoffs in recent years.

AppWizard

March 10, 2025

Rebellion’s Kingsley: “We’re just very professional with controlling scope and costs”

Jason Kingsley OBE, CEO of UK developer Rebellion, stated that the company's success in avoiding layoffs is due to meticulous cost management practices. Rebellion focuses on keeping project scopes manageable and prefers developing smaller, high-quality games rather than large, unfocused ones. Approximately two-thirds of their games are sequels or established brands, while one-third consists of experimental projects, ensuring a reliable revenue stream and fostering innovation. Kingsley emphasized the importance of job security and the company's commitment to maintaining stability and responsible growth without frequent hiring and firing.

TrendTechie

February 5, 2025

Французские ученые нашли способ слежки за пользователями торрент-трекеров

Researchers from the French National Institute for Research in Computer Science and Control tracked user activities on torrent trackers for 103 days, collecting 148 million IP addresses and identifying 2 billion copies of files, many of which were unlicensed. They observed the distribution of 500,000 to 750,000 files at any moment and identified 1.4 million unique .torrent files, noting that a small number of individuals shared the majority of these files. The UK has enacted legislation requiring internet service providers to disconnect users accused of downloading pirated content, while the Supreme Court of Ireland upheld the legality of disconnecting users accused of music piracy. In 2008, Europeans downloaded €10 billion worth of copyrighted materials without charge, resulting in 185,000 job losses in the creative sectors. The European Parliament is reviewing statistics related to digital piracy, and several EU countries are drafting anti-piracy legislation. UNESCO announced the launch of the "Global Anti-Piracy Observatory" on World Book and Copyright Day.

AppWizard

December 13, 2024

This year The Game Awards finally tackled the plague of game industry layoffs

Geoff Keighley addressed the significant layoffs in the video game industry over the past two years during The Game Awards, noting the unprecedented nature of these job losses. Amir Satvat created the Games Jobs Resources website to support those affected by these layoffs, offering career planning, job listings, and networking opportunities. He highlighted that over 34,000 jobs have been lost in the last three years, emphasizing the importance of talent in game development.

AppWizard

September 17, 2024

VR specialist nDreams to lay off 17.5% of staff

nDreams plans to reduce its workforce by approximately 17.5%, affecting around 45 employees out of 253. CEO Patrick O'Luanaigh communicated this decision, citing a renewed strategic focus and challenges in the VR games market. Despite the layoffs, the company remains committed to the future of XR gaming and is working to support affected employees. This announcement follows nDreams' acquisition by Aonic for 0 million ten months ago.

AppWizard

July 24, 2024

Humble Games says it’s ‘restructuring,’ employees say its entire staff has been laid off

Humble Games recently announced a "restructuring" that does not involve any employee layoffs, despite earlier rumors.

AppWizard

July 16, 2024

Animation firm Axis Studios goes into administration

Axis Studios, a Scottish animation firm, is facing financial difficulties and has entered administration due to severe cash flow problems. 162 employees have lost their jobs, with only four remaining to assist in the winding down process. The main reason cited for the situation is a lack of customer projects.