Layoffs
Ongoing coverage on Layoffs.
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"Keeping teams together doesn't seem to matter to people, but for us it did": Star Wars Zero Company's director on what the industry can learn from XCOM 2
Greg Foertsch, director of Star Wars Zero Company and former art director on XCOM 2, emphasizes the importance of keeping development teams together to foster institutional knowledge and trust. He argues that this cohesion, demonstrated by Firaxis Games' work on the XCOM series, leads to better games and is a valuable lesson for an industry frequently impacted by layoffs.
Talking Highway Noir With Developer Mike Parry
Eidos Montreal has laid off 124 employees, with studio head David Anfossi also departing. The reasons for the layoffs and Anfossi's departure are not yet clear. This marks another round of job cuts for the game developer.
MMO Week in Review: Queen Devona
This week's MMO news roundup covers updates for Guild Wars Reforged, layoffs at MechWarrior studio Piranha Games, and a potential acquisition of Epic Games by Disney. The article also touches on political discussions surrounding game shutdowns in Europe and new early access dates for Heroes of Might and Magic Olden Era.
Former Rockstar Audio Engineer Says “My 20-Year Tenure is No Longer Good Enough to Get a Job”
Former Rockstar audio engineer Rob Carr stated that 20 years of industry experience is no longer sufficient to secure employment due to widespread layoffs and a competitive job market. Carr, who worked on titles like Grand Theft Auto 5 and Red Dead Redemption 2, highlighted that thousands of experienced professionals are facing similar challenges. This situation reflects a broader trend of instability and downsizing within the gaming industry following a period of rapid expansion.
"My 20-year tenure is no longer good enough": GTA 5, Red Dead Redemption veteran says getting a job is a "toss of coin" right now when everyone is as experienced as you are
Former Rockstar Games audio engineer Rob Carr, who worked on Grand Theft Auto 5 and Red Dead Redemption, commented on the difficulty of finding employment in the current games industry. Carr stated that his 20 years of experience are no longer sufficient to secure a job, highlighting the prevalence of layoffs and studio closures.
Grand Theft Auto 6 publisher Take-Two have seemingly laid off their head of AI and several of the department's staffers
Take-Two Interactive, publisher of Grand Theft Auto, has reportedly laid off its head of AI, Luke Dicken, and several members of his department. Dicken confirmed his departure and that of his team on LinkedIn, noting their seven years of work on cutting-edge AI technology. This comes after CEO Strauss Zelnick expressed mixed views on generative AI's role in creating successful games.
Take-Two lays off AI team
Take-Two Interactive, the parent company of Rockstar Games, has reportedly laid off its entire AI team, including its head of AI. This move comes despite a broader industry trend of studios investing in AI tools, with Take-Two CEO Strauss Zelnick expressing skepticism about AI's creative capabilities.
GTA 6 parent company Take-Two reportedly lays off its AI-focused staff: "Shifting priorities from upper management…
Take-Two Interactive, the parent company of Rockstar Games and 2K Games, has reportedly laid off its head of AI, Luke Dicken, and other AI-focused staff. This move comes as the company shifts priorities, impacting teams involved with artificial intelligence development.
Take-Two laid off the head its AI division and an undisclosed number of staff
Take-Two Interactive has reportedly laid off Luke Dicken, the head of its AI division, along with an undisclosed number of staff. Dicken's team was focused on developing AI technologies for game development, including procedural content and machine learning. This news comes as the company prepares for the release of Grand Theft Auto VI and amid broader industry trends of embracing AI for efficiency.
MechWarrior dev Piranha Games lays off 30% of staff, says CEO
Piranha Games, a subsidiary of Enad Global 7, has laid off 30 percent of its staff, according to CEO Russ Bullock. This follows a previous round of layoffs in January 2025, which parent company Enad Global 7 attributed to MechWarrior 5: Clans selling below expectations. The studio will continue to work on DLC for the MechWarrior series.
The Last of Us Online Was Cancelled 24 Hours Before It Was Announced
The Last of Us Online was canceled just 24 hours before its public announcement, with director Vinit Agarwal revealing the project was 80 percent complete. Journalist Jason Schreier also reported that the cancellation led to layoffs at Sony, impacting development on future single-player titles.
Embracer layoffs, Nintendo's patent problem, and is Baby Steps an Uncharted sequel? - Patch Notes #46
Several game development studios have announced layoffs and closures, including Embracer Group's Eidos Montreal and Ivy Road. Shinji Mikami has founded a new studio, Unbound Inc., with Shift Up. The Super Mario Galaxy Movie is performing well at the box office, while Nintendo's patent for a sub-character combat mechanic has been rejected. Rec Room is shutting down due to profitability issues, and VR developer Polyarc has also made layoffs.
MechWarrior studio Piranha Games lays off 30% of its employees
MechWarrior developer Piranha Games has laid off approximately 30% of its staff, confirmed CEO Russ Bullock. This marks the second round of layoffs at the studio in just over a year, following a previous round in January 2025 that impacted 38 employees. The recent cuts are attributed to MechWarrior 5: Clans failing to meet sales targets and a broader 'economic restructuring' at the company.
EG7-owned MechWarrior studio Piranha has suffered ‘masssive’ layoffs, threatening the franchise’s future
EG7-owned Piranha Games has reportedly undergone significant layoffs, impacting a large percentage of its staff and potentially jeopardizing the future of the MechWarrior franchise. This follows previous staff reductions and a failure of MechWarrior 5 Clans to meet sales targets, despite recent success with MechWarrior 5: Mercenaries DLC Shadow of Kerensky.
On the ground at GDC: how are devs responding to industry calamity?
Developers attending the Game Developer Conference expressed widespread uncertainty and anxiety due to industry layoffs and economic instability. Many believe the traditional model is broken, with a focus shifting towards leaner operations, niche audiences, and the potential impact of AI and unionization on the future of game development.
MechWarrior dev Piranha Games reportedly affected by redundancies
Piranha Games, the developer of MechWarrior 5: Clans, has reportedly undergone layoffs due to "economic restructuring." This follows similar cuts in January 2024, when parent company Enad Global 7 (EG7) reduced staff at Piranha Games and shut down Toadman Interactive, citing that MechWarrior 5: Clans did not meet sales targets.
Goat Simulator maker Coffee Stain shutters Malmo studio
Coffee Stain Malmo, the Swedish mobile studio behind Goat Simulator 3 and Songs of Conquest Mobile, has been shut down. The closure affects 17 employees, with the future of the team members currently unclear. This follows a broader restructuring program at parent company Embracer Group, which has led to widespread layoffs and studio closures across its subsidiaries.
Eidos Montréal Layoffs Reportedly Follow Cancellation of Undisclosed Original Project
Eidos-Montréal has reportedly undergone layoffs following the cancellation of an unannounced original game project. Journalist Jason Schreier claims these layoffs are connected to the canceled project, which was not mentioned in the studio's official statement.
Eidos Montréal Layoffs Reportedly Follow Cancellation of Undisclosed Original Project
Eidos Montréal has laid off 124 employees following the cancellation of an undisclosed original project. Studio head David Anfossi has also departed the company, though the circumstances of his exit are unclear. The layoffs impact the development team working on PC titles.
Eidos-Montréal's latest round of layoffs reportedly follows the cancellation of an "almost complete" open-world game
Eidos-Montréal has reportedly laid off approximately 124 employees following the cancellation of an "almost complete" open-world game tentatively titled Wildlands. Studio head David Anfossi has also departed. The game, which had been in development since early 2019, reportedly suffered from numerous issues including engine changes, narrative conflicts, and an exploding budget.
