workforce reduction Archives

AppWizard

April 3, 2025

PlaySide is making layoffs

PlaySide Studios, an Australian game developer, is reducing its workforce as part of an operational restructuring due to challenges in securing new work-for-hire projects. The layoffs will primarily affect work-for-hire and non-project specific personnel, with an undisclosed number of positions being cut. The restructuring is expected to save between AUD 4 million and AUD 5 million annually, but will incur a one-time cost of AUD 1.5 million. Ongoing projects, such as Mouse: PI for Hire, will not be impacted. The company plans to provide outplacement support and counseling services to affected employees. CEO Been Skender emphasized the need for resilience in the business model while acknowledging the difficulties faced by staff.

AppWizard

April 1, 2025

Eidos Montréal is cutting 75 jobs

Eidos Montréal has announced a reduction in its workforce, resulting in 75 employees facing redundancy. The layoffs are part of the conclusion of one of its operational mandates and are not a reflection of the employees' skills or dedication. The company stated it lacks the capacity to reallocate these employees to other projects. Eidos Montréal is committed to supporting the affected employees during their transition. This announcement follows a similar layoff of 17 employees at Crystal Dynamics, another studio under the Embracer Group, highlighting ongoing adjustments in the gaming sector.

AppWizard

March 31, 2025

Myst maker Cyan Worlds has made layoffs

Cyan Worlds has reduced its workforce by half, eliminating 12 positions due to challenging industry conditions. The management acknowledged the difficult situation and maintained open communication with the team about potential challenges. They offered severance packages to affected employees and invited other developers to consider the available talent. The studio's focus is on securing financing for their next project and stabilizing operations.

AppWizard

March 29, 2025

37-year-old studio behind iconic PC game Myst and one of the longest-surviving indies in the world just laid off “roughly half the team”

Cyan Worlds announced a reduction in its workforce, laying off twelve team members, which is approximately half of its staff. This change will take effect at the end of March.

AppWizard

March 27, 2025

Crystal Dynamics cuts 17 jobs

Crystal Dynamics announced a workforce reduction of 17 employees as part of a strategic move to align with evolving business needs. The studio is developing a new Tomb Raider installment to be published by Amazon and is involved in reviving the Perfect Dark franchise with Microsoft's The Initiative studios. The company is providing transition packages and outreach opportunities for affected employees. Crystal Dynamics stated that the layoffs do not reflect the dedication or capabilities of those impacted and assured stakeholders that project timelines and objectives will not be affected.

AppWizard

February 27, 2025

Krafton makes further cuts to Striking Distance

Krafton has laid off employees at its subsidiary, Striking Distance Studios, which developed The Callisto Protocol. The company confirmed the layoffs, stating that Striking Distance remains operational and is reducing its team size to create a more sustainable environment. The studio previously laid off 32 employees in 2023, which was about 20% of its workforce at that time. Striking Distance was founded in 2019 by Glen Schofield and launched The Callisto Protocol in 2022.

AppWizard

February 25, 2025

Bossa makes unknown number of job cuts

Bossa Games, based in London, has announced a workforce reduction as part of a strategic pivot for the late-stage production of its upcoming title, Lost Skies. Co-CEO Henrique Olifiers shared that the studio plans to reorganize into smaller teams after the game's launch to enhance innovation and expedite future development. He expressed regret over the layoffs, acknowledging the talent of those affected. Earlier in 2024, Bossa Games had already laid off about a third of its staff.

AppWizard

February 20, 2025

VR studio Toast Interactive lays off most of its staff

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

February 19, 2025

Just Cause creator’s new studio announces ‘incredibly difficult’ layoffs while still working on its first game

Liquid Swords, a studio founded by Christofer Sundberg in 2020, has announced a reduction in its workforce due to shifting market conditions that hindered its ability to meet projected milestones. The studio, which focuses on creating open-world action experiences, is currently developing a narrative-driven, open-world AAA revenge story using Unreal Engine 5. Despite the layoffs, Sundberg reassured stakeholders that the project will continue. In 2022, NetEase Games made an undisclosed investment in Liquid Swords, which had plans to expand its workforce to 100 employees by early 2024. Sundberg previously served as Chief Creative Officer at Avalanche Studios, contributing to the Just Cause series and the 2015 Mad Max game.

AppWizard

February 15, 2025

Epic gave away nearly 600 million games in 2024, and it’s ‘not slowing down’ for 2025

The Epic Games Store's total user base reached 295 million in 2024, an increase of 25 million from the previous year. The Epic ecosystem expanded to 898 million cross-platform accounts, a rise of 94 million from 2023. In 2024, 1,100 new games were released, bringing the total number of titles to over 4,000. Users claimed more than 595 million free games, averaging a total value of 9 per player. The Epic Games Store launcher improved loading times to a third of what they were in early 2023 for 95% of users. Upcoming features include a download manager, gifting options, preloading capabilities, and enhanced social features.