layoffs Archives

AppWizard

June 14, 2025

The Outer Worlds 2 director offers the most sympathetic answer I’ve yet heard for the $80 game question: ‘We don’t set the prices for our games,’ and ‘You’d have to honestly talk to the Xbox folks’

Brandon Adler, the director of The Outer Worlds 2, stated that game developers do not set the prices for their games, emphasizing that pricing decisions are made by corporate executives. He expressed a desire for broader accessibility to games but indicated that pricing inquiries should be directed to Xbox executives. The economic landscape has shifted, making home ownership difficult while consumer electronics have become more affordable. Gamers now have various options, including subscription services and budget-friendly hardware. The perceived normal price for games has shifted to the range of to , with being a stretch, particularly for highly anticipated titles. Pricing challenges reflect deeper issues in the gaming industry, including recent layoffs and rising development costs. Obsidian Entertainment has adopted a strategy of working on multiple smaller projects, resulting in more affordable pricing for some titles, while the upcoming Avowed is set at a full retail price. Concerns exist that The Outer Worlds 2’s price might hinder its success, especially given the unclear metrics Microsoft uses to evaluate sales performance.

AppWizard

June 11, 2025

Sony laying off 30% of Bend Studio staff

PlayStation's Bend Studio has reduced its workforce by nearly one-third, affecting approximately 40 employees, following the cancellation of a live-service project and another service-based game. The studio employs around 130 individuals, and the layoffs were confirmed via social media. Bend Studio expressed gratitude towards the departing employees for their contributions. The studio is known for its title, Days Gone, released in 2019 for PlayStation 4 and in 2021 for PC.

AppWizard

June 6, 2025

Xbox Games Showcase 2025 preview: The big games and developers to expect on Sunday’s livestream

The Xbox Games Showcase is scheduled for Sunday, June 8, at 10 AM Pacific. Anticipated titles include Gears of War: E-Day, Perfect Dark, Clockwork Revolution, Fable, Everwild, and State of Decay 3. The Outer Worlds 2 will have its own dedicated stream following the main showcase. Expected announcements include Forza Horizon 6 or a new Forza Motorsport, and a new Call of Duty game, likely Modern Warfare 4. There may be updates on Diablo 4 and Overwatch 2 from Blizzard, and a look at upcoming DLC for Starfield from Bethesda Game Studios. Other studios like Ninja Theory and Double Fine are also expected to provide insights into their projects.

AppWizard

June 6, 2025

Thief VR is a huge slap on the face and kick in the teeth for everyone who has been waiting for more than a decade to return to the City

Embracer Group, a Swedish holding company, has retained the rights to the Thief franchise while undergoing significant layoffs and restructuring, with nearly 1,000 employees losing their jobs. They recently announced Thief VR: Legacy of Shadow, which has raised concerns among fans about the direction of the franchise and the effectiveness of VR technology in enhancing gameplay. The reveal trailer showcased familiar mechanics but lacked innovation, leading to doubts about the company's understanding of the franchise and its audience.

AppWizard

June 5, 2025

Arkane’s Deathloop Is Free For A Week On The Epic Games Store

The Epic Games Store will offer three free games: Deathloop, Ogu and the Secret Forest, available until June 12, 2025, and Two Point Hospital, which will be free from June 12-19. Deathloop is developed by Arkane Lyon, and Ogu and the Secret Forest is created by Sinkhole Studio and Moonlab Studio. These titles replace Tiny Tina's Wonderland and Limbo, which were available previously. The giveaway is part of the Epic Games Store's 2025 Mega Sale, which started on May 15.

AppWizard

June 5, 2025

Jagex says job cuts are “unrelated” to cancelled project

Jagex has stated that recent layoffs are not related to the cancellation of Project Zanaris, which aimed to create community servers for Old School RuneScape. The layoffs primarily impact non-development and non-player-facing roles, with some developers also leaving the company. Jagex is restructuring its operations to reduce complexity and increase agility, focusing on enhancing teams that contribute directly to player experiences. The company is committed to supporting affected employees during this transition.

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

June 2, 2025

People Can Fly lays off staff as it cans two projects

Polish developer People Can Fly has decided to scale down its teams after canceling two projects, Gemini and Bifrost. CEO Sebastian Wojciechowski announced the halt in development due to issues with their publishing partner for Gemini and funding problems for Bifrost. The studio has faced challenges in recent years, including the termination of a publishing deal with Take-Two Interactive in 2022 and two rounds of layoffs in 2024. Despite these setbacks, the studio announced a collaboration with The Coalition on Gears of War: E-Day, set for early 2025.

AppWizard

June 1, 2025

‘We wish to express our deepest regret’: Bulletstorm and Outriders dev People Can Fly suspends unannounced projects in yet another wave of gaming layoffs

Sebastian Wojciechowski, CEO of People Can Fly, announced the indefinite suspension of two game development projects, codenamed Gemini and Bifrost, and a scaling down of the workforce due to unsuccessful negotiations with a publisher that left the studio without necessary resources. The suspension of the Gemini project is attributed to the publisher's failure to provide a draft for a content rider related to the Publishing Agreement and a lack of communication regarding the project's future. Despite these challenges, People Can Fly is still working on three unannounced projects, Bison, Echo, and Delta, and the development of Lost Rift is progressing, with a demo set to be released during the upcoming Steam Next Fest.

AppWizard

May 21, 2025

Obsidian vet Carrie Patel has joined Netflix

Carrie Patel, former director of Avowed, has joined Night School Studio, a subsidiary of Netflix, as game director. She previously worked at Obsidian Entertainment for nearly 12 years, contributing to titles like Pillars of Eternity, The Outer Worlds, and Avowed. Night School Studio was acquired by Netflix in 2021 and is known for the game Oxenfree. In February 2025, Netflix announced layoffs at Night School Studio amidst broader changes, including the closure of its Blue studio and leadership reshuffling.