redundancies

AppWizard
July 4, 2025
Build A Rocket Boy, the developer of MindsEye, is preparing for potential layoffs, informing its approximately 300 UK employees and those at its subsidiary PlayFusion of possible redundancies. MindsEye, launched in early June, faced a poor reception due to technical difficulties, leading the company to address these issues. Co-CEO Leslie Benzies attributed some challenges to "internal and external saboteurs," a sentiment echoed by co-CEO Mark Gerhard. However, the game's publisher has stated they do not believe any sabotage occurred during development or launch.
AppWizard
June 24, 2025
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 4, 2025
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
April 2, 2025
Three professionals from the UK gaming industry, Darren Newnham, Mark Faulkner, and John Lewis, have launched an indie publishing house called The CoLab. They have experience from companies such as United Label, Fnatic, Disney Interactive, Jagex, PlayFusion, Bossa, Codemasters, and Criterion. The CoLab has three projects in development: a cozy game called Campfire, a cyberpunk shooter named DeadWire, and a strategy game titled Counter Clash. The company has partnered with the charity Safe in Our World to support mental wellbeing in the gaming industry. The CoLab aims to support indie developers during challenging times in the sector, advocating for cooperation and collaboration while addressing issues like mass redundancies and the prioritization of shareholder value over gamers' needs. Their vision includes uniting game creators, sharing resources, and fostering a supportive environment for developers.
AppWizard
February 20, 2025
Toast Interactive has announced a major reduction in its workforce, including the shutdown of its office and layoffs of a substantial portion of its staff. Founded in 2016, the studio is known for titles like Max Mustard and Richie's Plank Experience. The founders, Toni and Richard Eastes, expressed sorrow over the decision and noted that the majority of their talented staff have suffered redundancies. They plan to continue enhancing their existing projects despite the challenges.
AppWizard
September 17, 2024
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
September 9, 2024
Publisher Merge Games is closing its Chelford office in the UK as part of a broader integration into its parent company, Maximum Entertainment. The number of employees affected is undisclosed. CEO Christina Seelye mentioned that this decision is part of necessary cost-cutting measures and reflects the challenging landscape the company faces. The restructuring follows Zordix's rebranding of its games business as Maximum Entertainment earlier in 2023.
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