Layoffs
Ongoing coverage on Layoffs.
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MindsEye Developer Hit With Another Round of Layoffs
Build A Rocket Boy, the developer of MindsEye, has undergone another round of significant layoffs, impacting approximately 170 employees. This follows the termination of IO Interactive's publishing collaboration, with Build A Rocket Boy now handling publishing in-house. The game has also faced poor critical and player reception, with its co-CEO alleging a smear campaign against the title.
MindsEye Saga Hits a New Low as Mass Layoffs Cripple PS5 Flop's 'Comeback'
Developer Build A Rocket Boy has reportedly laid off approximately 170 employees, reducing its staff to around 80 people. This marks the third round of layoffs for the company since the troubled launch of its open-world shooter, MindsEye. The studio's attempts to rework and relaunch the game have seemingly failed to restore interest, compounded by accusations of privacy violations.
EA boasts record year thanks to Battlefield 6 and EA Sports FC
Electronic Arts reported record net bookings of $8 billion for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2026, driven by the successful launches of Battlefield 6 and EA Sports FC 26. Despite the record financial performance, the company also conducted layoffs affecting Battlefield developers. EA is currently undergoing a pending acquisition by an investor consortium including Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund.
MindsEye Developer Build a Rocket Boy Hit by Yet More Layoffs
MindsEye developer Build a Rocket Boy has undergone another round of layoffs, reducing its staff to approximately 80 employees. This marks the third significant staff reduction in the past year, following a troubled launch for their game, MindsEye. CEO Mark Gerhard attributed the cuts to 'corporate sabotage,' while the studio also faces a lawsuit alleging unauthorized surveillance.
MindsEye studio Build A Rocket Boy reportedly lays off around 170 more employees following story campaign update inspired by alleged sabotage
MindsEye, the studio behind Build A Rocket Boy, has reportedly laid off approximately 170 more employees, reducing its staff to around 80. This follows previous layoffs and the exit of publisher IOI Partners. CEO Mark Gerhard has cited external sabotage attempts, a narrative reflected in the recent 'Blacklisted' content update, though former employees dispute the sabotage claims.
Build a Rocket Boy reportedly hit with more layoffs
Developer Build a Rocket Boy, also known as MindsEye, has reportedly undergone its third round of layoffs in the past year, with approximately 80 employees remaining out of a previous total of 250. CEO Mark Gerhard previously stated that further reductions were necessary for the company's long-term future. The studio is currently undergoing a 'reset' for its game, MindsEye, following negative reception at launch due to bugs and performance issues.
More Layoffs Reportedly Hit MindsEye Developer Build a Rocket Boy
Developer MindsEye, known for the upcoming game Build a Rocket Boy, has reportedly experienced further layoffs. This news follows the recent release of the game's 'Blacklisted' update.
MindsEye Studio Hit With New Round of Layoffs, Reportedly Affecting Around 170 Workers
Build A Rocket Boy, the studio behind MindsEye, has reportedly laid off around 170 employees, reducing its workforce to approximately 80. This follows a previous round of layoffs in March, which CEO Mark Gerhard attributed to espionage and sabotage. Several former employees have spoken out about the redundancies and alleged spying software used by the company.
Business and Finance
MindsEye, the studio behind the game rated as the worst for 2025, has been affected by new mass layoffs. Separately, Wizards of the Coast and its parent company Hasbro missed a deadline to voluntarily recognize a workers' union.
MindsEye developer Build a Rocket Boy lays off even more people
Developer Build a Rocket Boy has conducted another round of layoffs, reportedly affecting up to 170 employees, following the poor reception of its MindsEye DLC, Blacklisted. This follows previous reductions that aimed to shrink the studio from over 800 employees to around 100. The game's concurrent player count on Steam has also fallen to a low of 11.
No, China hasn't made it illegal to fire humans and replace them with AI—but yes it's made it much more…
China has not made it illegal to replace workers with AI, but courts have ruled that companies cannot terminate contracts solely based on AI implementation without offering reasonable compensation or alternative employment. This legal principle, established in a case involving a worker named Zhou, emphasizes that replacing employees with AI is a business decision, not an inevitable event. The ruling aims to balance AI adoption with existing employment laws amidst economic slowdown.
MindsEye Dev Reportedly Laid Off 170 Of 250 Employees
Build A Rocket Boy, the developer of MindsEye, has reportedly laid off approximately 170 of its 250 employees. This follows the game's poor reception last year and previous rounds of layoffs. The company has also faced accusations of installing surveillance software and issues with crunch time.
"They responded only to the press": Wizards of the Coast miss deadline for recognising Magic: The Gathering Arena union
Wizards of the Coast has missed a deadline to voluntarily recognize the union formed by Magic: The Gathering Arena developers. The union, United Wizards of the Coast—CWA, claims management has only responded to press inquiries and is now awaiting a National Labor Relations Board petition. The union aims to address issues like layoffs, return-to-office mandates, and generative AI adoption.
Alien: Rogue Incursion Developer Survios Allegedly Lays Off Most of Its Developers
Survios, the developer behind Alien: Rogue Incursion, has reportedly laid off the majority of its development staff, with multiple employees confirming the news on LinkedIn. The studio was working on a Nintendo Switch port and a sequel to Rogue Incursion. There has been no official confirmation from Survios regarding its status.
Marvel Snap’s Second Dinner undertakes layoffs ‘to make sure [the game] can keep going’
Second Dinner, the studio behind the digital card game Marvel Snap and owned by ByteDance, has conducted an unspecified number of layoffs. Studio lead Ben Brode confirmed the departures, stating the decisions were made to ensure the company's fiscal stability and continued operation. The roadmap for Marvel Snap remains unchanged, with developers committed to improving the game's core systems and stability.
We Might Never See The Conclusion To Alien: Rogue Incursion
Developer Survios is reportedly being "essentially shuttered" with the majority of its team laid off, including those who worked on Alien: Rogue Incursion. This news comes shortly after the Nintendo Switch launch of the game, casting doubt on any potential conclusion to the story. The layoffs highlight ongoing instability within the games industry.
Marvel Snap studio insists: "This is us making hard decisions to keep going, not a sign we're winding down"
Marvel Snap developer Second Dinner has confirmed recent layoffs, including its community manager and a designer, assuring players that these are necessary decisions to ensure the studio's continued operation. Co-founder Ben Brode stated that the game's roadmap remains unchanged and these actions are not indicative of the studio winding down.
Another Highly Regarded PSVR2 Dev on the Brink After Mass Layoffs
Virtual reality studio Survios has reportedly laid off most of its staff, with reports suggesting the company will be "essentially shuttered." The studio, known for PlayStation VR2 titles like Alien: Rogue Incursion and CREED: Rise to Glory, follows similar mass layoffs at Polyarc. This news impacts the potential for future installments in its franchises.
Business and Finance
Second Dinner, the developer of Marvel Snap, is attempting to address player concerns following recent layoffs. The studio is working to reassure its community about the game's future and development stability.
Former PlayStation Exec Believes Recent Layoffs Are a Result of Over-Investment During Covid-19
Former PlayStation executive Shuhei Yoshida attributes recent widespread gaming industry layoffs to over-investment and over-hiring during the COVID-19 pandemic's period of rapid growth. He suggests companies misjudged sustained demand, leading to adjustments and layoffs as the industry returned to steady growth. Despite the sad reality of job losses, Yoshida remains optimistic about the industry's long-term health, noting that overall employment numbers may still be increasing.
