DON'T NOD
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"This company has been driven into a wall for years" - Life is Strange studio Don't Nod faces unrest while teetering on insolvency
French studio Don't Nod, known for Life is Strange, is facing deep unrest and has entered safeguard proceedings to avoid insolvency. The company is undergoing significant restructuring, including substantial layoffs, while attempting to complete its in-development game codenamed P14 through increased outsourcing. Employees report a prolonged period of uncertainty and anxiety, with management's decisions criticized for negatively impacting staff health and livelihoods.
Life Is Strange Developer Don't Nod Blasted by Union Employees Over 'Illegal' Management Practices as Possible Layoffs Loom
Employees of Life Is Strange developer Don't Nod have issued a statement warning of potential insolvency and layoffs, accusing management of "illegal" practices that have caused staff significant uncertainty and anxiety. The unionized employees expressed concern over the company's current financial state and management's handling of the situation.
Life is Strange makers Don't Nod face layoffs and possible insolvency, French workers union STJV state
French game workers union STJV has reported that Don't Nod, the studio behind Life is Strange, is facing significant layoffs and potential insolvency. The company has entered a "safeguard procedure" to avoid liquidation due to an inability to pay debts, with widespread job cuts affecting nearly all non-managerial roles. The union criticizes the company's management for poor communication, alleged illegal targeting of employees, and a reliance on outsourcing.
Evening Reading - October 20, 2026
This edition of Evening Reading covers a variety of gaming news, including updates for Cyberpunk 2077 and EVE Online, a potential delay for Umamusume: Pretty Derby due to immigration policies, and the announcement of a new Deadlock update. It also touches on financial news for Tesla, SpaceX, and Netflix, and mentions the potential for a 2027 Xbox handheld.
Don't Nod is in financial strife, opens safeguard proceedings
The company behind the Life is Strange series, Don't Nod, has entered safeguard proceedings after the Paris Business Court granted its request due to a poor cash position that prevents it from securing financing for its operations and projects. CEO Oskar Guilbert acknowledged the impact on teams, indicating potential layoffs are likely as the company seeks a sustainable solution amidst a challenging industry environment.
The studio behind Life is Strange, Jusant, and Lost Records: Bloom & Rage is desperately struggling to stay afloat
Don't Nod, the studio behind Life is Strange and Jusant, is facing severe financial difficulties and has entered "safeguard proceedings" to buy time. Despite critical acclaim for games like Jusant and Banishers: Ghosts of New Eden, sales have fallen "well below expectations," leading to layoffs and the postponement of new projects. CEO Oskar Guilbert cited the challenging financing environment in the videogame industry as a major factor.
Japanese Studios Are Doing Well Thanks to Small Teams and Pay Packages for Executives – Analyst
Analyst Amir Satvat suggests Japanese game companies are performing better than Western counterparts due to smaller teams, lower executive salaries, and less involvement in the live-service trend, leading to higher staff retention. While North America and Europe account for 96% of industry layoffs, Japanese firms like Nintendo, Konami, and Capcom maintain high retention rates.
Don't Nod might not have enough cash to make it through January 2027, and even if it does, pulling up could…
Developer Don't Nod is facing severe financial difficulties, with a material uncertainty about its ability to continue operating beyond January 31, 2027. Poor sales of recent titles like Jusant and Banishers: Ghosts of New Eden, coupled with increased development costs for a Netflix collaboration, have led to a significant decrease in operating revenue. The company is undergoing a restructure in France that may involve up to 90 layoffs.
"Material uncertainty" hangs over the future of Life is Strange developers Don't Nod beyond January 2027, as negotiations over potential layoffs begin
Life is Strange developer Don't Nod is facing significant financial uncertainty, with a "material uncertainty regarding the company's ability to continue as a going concern beyond January 31st, 2027." The studio is initiating negotiations for potential layoffs that could affect up to 90 staff as part of a transformation project aimed at refocusing operations. CEO Oskar Guilbert stated these measures are essential for the company's continued operations.
Don't Nod considering laying off 90 workers in France
Life is Strange developer Don't Nod has warned it may lay off 90 employees in France due to financial difficulties and systemic pressures in the video game industry. The company's operating revenue declined by 56 percent year-on-year, resulting in a significant operating EBITDA loss. Don't Nod is proposing a restructure to adapt to new market conditions and ensure its survival.
DON’T NOD Announces Lay Offs Affecting Up To 90 Employees as Part of New Business Plan
DON’T NOD has announced potential layoffs of up to 90 employees as part of a new business plan and restructuring effort. The company cited profound changes in the economic conditions of the video game industry and its financing as reasons for the difficult measures, which are essential for its continued operations and long-term growth.
Don't Nod warns it may not have enough funding to operate beyond January 2027
Don't Nod, the studio behind Life is Strange, has warned it may not have enough funding to continue operating beyond January 2027 without securing external financing. The company is also considering cutting up to 90 jobs in France as part of a restructuring plan due to declining revenue and widening operating losses.
Free Play Days – EA Sports College Football 27, The Survivalists, The Lonesome Guild, and Under The Waves
Xbox is offering Free Play Days for several titles including EA Sports College Football 27, The Survivalists, The Lonesome Guild, and Under The Waves. EA Sports College Football 27 and The Survivalists have specific availability windows, with The Survivalists requiring Xbox Game Pass membership, while The Lonesome Guild and Under The Waves are available as two-hour timed trials for all Xbox members.
Life is Strange developer Don't Nod look primed for layoffs, as the studio announces a "transformation intitiative"
Life is Strange developer Don't Nod is initiating a "transformation initiative" that is likely to result in layoffs, as the company cites deteriorating economic conditions in the video game industry. The studio has convened employee representative bodies to discuss a potential job protection plan and has begun negotiations with labor unions.
Life is Strange and Aphelion studio Don't Nod probably facing layoffs again, as it announces ominous-sounding "transformation initiative"
French developer Don't Nod, known for Life is Strange and Aphelion, is initiating a "transformation initiative" that strongly suggests impending layoffs. The company cited "profound changes in the economic conditions of the video game industry" and deteriorating economic indicators as reasons for adapting its operating model, with negotiations underway for a job-preservation plan.
DON’T NOD Announces Restructuring to “Maintain its Competitiveness”, Might Involve Layoffs
DON'T NOD has announced a restructuring aimed at maintaining competitiveness, which is expected to involve layoffs. The company will meet with employee representatives to implement a job protection plan, with further details anticipated soon. This follows previous rumors and industry-wide concerns about job cuts.
Underrated 2024 PS5 RPG 70% Off on PlayStation Store, Lowest Price
Banishers: Ghosts of New Eden, an action RPG developed by Don't Nod, is currently available for 70% off on the PlayStation Store, priced at $17.99 until September 10, 2026. The game is also included in the PlayStation Plus Extra Game Catalog and is available on PC and Xbox Series X|S.
Find balance in abstract puzzle adventure What Surrounds Us, now available on Steam
What Surrounds Us, the debut indie game from former Don't Nod developer Florent Martinais, is now available on Steam for PC. This minimalist puzzle adventure invites players to explore a delicate ecosystem and restore balance by solving environmental puzzles without dialogue or narration. The game explores themes of environmental anxiety and coexistence, encouraging reflection on real-world issues.
Aphelion Review – A Stunning Yet Frustrating Sci-Fi Experience | Invision Game Community
Aphelion is a visually stunning but frustrating sci-fi experience from Don't Nod, featuring a slow-paced narrative and inconsistent checkpoint system. While the game boasts beautiful icy vistas and good voice acting, it lacks the character development and meaningful choices found in the studio's previous titles. Ultimately, it's a serviceable walking simulator with a standard sci-fi mystery that falls short of its potential.
How games can "queer the concept of time" - and help us explore, interrogate, and reinvent our relationship with life's many milestones
This article explores how video games are examining the concept of 'queer time,' a non-linear and personal experience of life milestones often faced by LGBTQ+ individuals. Games like Life is Strange, If Found, and Killing Time At Light Speed are highlighted for their narrative and mechanical explorations of identity, temporality, and societal pressures.
