staff layoffs Archives

AppWizard

November 3, 2025

Just Cause 5 would be a ‘no go’ according to the series’ creator, as ‘extremely few from the original team’ remain at Avalanche Studios

Seven years have passed since Avalanche Studios released a new installment in the Just Cause series, with the last title, Just Cause 4, coming out in 2018. Cristofer Sundberg, the series' creator, indicated that the chances of a new Just Cause game are slim due to the departure of many key creatives. He expressed regret over moving from creative leadership to a corporate role, which he believes contributed to the struggles of Just Cause 4. The development of a new project, Contraband, was halted after significant layoffs at Microsoft, leading to further layoffs at Avalanche Studios. Despite mixed reviews, Just Cause 4 saw improvements through updates. Sundberg's new studio, Liquid Swords, has faced challenges, including staff layoffs, but continues to develop a narrative-driven open-world game.

AppWizard

July 4, 2025

Publisher pulls funding for Romero Games project

Romero Games has lost funding for its in-development project, leading to potential layoffs or significant changes within the organization. The studio was developing a first-person shooter using Unreal Engine 5, which had received backing from an undisclosed major publisher, speculated to be Microsoft. Studio head Brenda Romero announced the funding cancellation in a message, emphasizing that the team's dedication and performance were not at fault, as they consistently met all milestones and received positive feedback. The news has had an emotional impact on the team, many of whom have long-standing relationships.

AppWizard

December 4, 2024

Torn Banner Studios cuts staff

Torn Banner Studios' CEO, Steve Piggott, announced impending staff layoffs as part of a restructuring initiative, though the exact number of positions affected is undisclosed. Laid-off employees will receive severance packages and retain their work computers, with support offered in finding new opportunities at other game development studios. The development of Chivalry 2 will not be impacted by the layoffs, and the studio is committed to progressing with their roadmap and additional content for their games. The final update for Chivalry 2 was released earlier in 2024, and servers will remain active.

AppWizard

July 12, 2024

Splash Damage lays off “small number of roles”

Splash Damage is laying off a "small number" of staff members due to a recent business review to better align with the needs of their current and future game projects. The majority of affected roles are on the operations side, with development teams mostly untouched. All games, announced or unannounced, are still in progress.