layoffs Archives

AppWizard

June 28, 2025

Report: Don’t Nod is making layoffs

Don't Nod, a French video game developer, has initiated a series of layoffs, primarily affecting its Montreal office, as indicated by employee posts on LinkedIn. Senior game designer Mathieu Tremblay expressed disappointment over being part of the layoffs and reflected on the team's accomplishments with their recent title, Lost Records: Bloom and Rage. The exact number of employees affected by the layoffs is unclear.

AppWizard

June 26, 2025

Intel is making another round of layoffs

Intel is reducing its workforce, with approximately 107 employees affected at its Santa Clara headquarters, as indicated by a WARN notice. The company plans to cut 15 to 20 percent of its workforce in the chip manufacturing division. This decision is part of a broader strategy for future growth, aiming to become a leaner and more efficient company. Intel has set goals to cut operating costs by billion in the 2025 financial year and an additional billion in 2026.

AppWizard

June 26, 2025

Report: Xbox poised to make yet more layoffs

Microsoft is expected to announce significant job cuts in its Xbox division next week, as part of ongoing restructuring efforts. This follows earlier reports of potential layoffs affecting thousands of positions in Microsoft's sales business. The upcoming layoffs at Xbox would mark the fourth round of job reductions in 18 months, totaling approximately 15,000 employees let go since January 2023. Phil Spencer, head of Microsoft's gaming division, confirmed the redundancy of 650 staff members in September 2024, highlighting the emotional impact of these changes and the importance of support within the team.

AppWizard

June 25, 2025

Minecraft Competitor Hytale Shuts Down After a Decade of Development

Hypixel Studios has ceased development on its sandbox game, Hytale, due to insufficient financial support and challenges in aligning its vision with the evolving sandbox gaming landscape. The studio, founded in 2016 and acquired by Riot Games in 2020, faced difficulties despite a major overhaul of the game engine. Riot Games assisted in seeking additional investors but ultimately decided to halt the project, providing support to the team during the transition. The existing Hypixel Minecraft server will continue to operate independently. The announcement comes amid significant layoffs in the gaming industry, with over 10,500 jobs lost in 2023 and projections of an additional 14,600 in 2024.

AppWizard

June 24, 2025

MindsEye maker BARB confirms it is making layoffs

Build A Rocket Boy has announced a reduction in its workforce following the launch of its game, MindsEye. The company confirmed it has begun making certain staff members redundant but did not disclose the number of affected employees. They are seeking to reassign roles for impacted employees and have initiated a formal consultation process that may lead to further redundancies. The studio expressed its commitment to handle the situation with transparency and respect for employees, stating they will provide further details in the coming weeks. The decision aims to allow the company to focus on ongoing updates and performance optimizations for MindsEye and ensure its long-term success.

AppWizard

June 20, 2025

Embracer’s headcount dropped by 1.8k staff last year

Embracer Group has reduced its workforce by over 1,800 employees, specifically a decrease of 1,857 compared to the previous fiscal year. This follows approximately 1,400 job losses in the prior year. The company has also divested several studios, including Gearbox and Saber Interactive. Embracer is planning to split into three publicly-traded entities, and founder and CEO Lars Wingefors will step down, with Phil Rogers taking over as CEO. Wingefors will become executive chairman of the Board, focusing on strategic initiatives, mergers and acquisitions, and capital allocation.

AppWizard

June 20, 2025

Report: The Chinese Room has laid off small number of staff

The Chinese Room has reportedly reduced its workforce, with about ten employees seeking new job opportunities, although the studio has not confirmed the layoffs or the number of affected employees. Studio Director Ed Daly stated that more information about the studio's situation will be shared in the coming weeks. The studio, acquired by Sumo Digital in 2018, recently developed the Siren's Rest DLC for Still Wakes The Deep and took over the development of Paradox's Masquerade – Bloodlines 2 in 2023. Sumo Group has undergone significant changes, shifting back to a work-for-hire model and experiencing departures of its founders and several developers. Speculation exists regarding the future of The Chinese Room, including the possibility of a sale.

AppWizard

June 16, 2025

Stellar Blade now Sony’s biggest single-player game on Steam

Stellar Blade has become the most successful single-player game from Sony on Steam, achieving a peak of 192,078 concurrent players. It has outperformed other notable titles such as The Last of Us Part 1 (39,496 players), The Last of Us Part 2 Remastered (30,690 users), God of War (83,529 users), and God of War Ragnarök (35,615 users). While Helldivers 2 holds the record for PlayStation-launched games on Steam with 458,709 concurrent users, it is a multiplayer game. Prior to its release on June 11th, Stellar Blade ranked as the sixth highest-grossing game on Steam in pre-orders. Herman Hulst, head of PlayStation Studios, mentioned a cautious strategy for expanding first-party titles to the PC market. Sony has also faced challenges, including layoffs at its Bend Studio after canceling an unannounced live-service title.

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.