Layoffs
Ongoing coverage on Layoffs.
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Double Fine Cuts 25% Of Staff After Separating From Microsoft
Double Fine has laid off 25% of its staff, approximately 23 employees, following its separation from Microsoft and regaining independence. Studio head Tim Schafer stated the cuts were necessary to scale the studio to a sustainable size. Microsoft had divested five studios, including Double Fine, earlier this month.
EA boss got £29,000,000 bonus for Battlefield 6 while the devs were laid off
Electronic Arts CEO Andrew Wilson received a bonus of nearly $39 million for the 2026 financial year, despite the company laying off employees from studios working on Battlefield 6. This bonus is an increase from the previous year and does not include his base salary. Other executives also received significant bonuses, while games like Battlefield 6, EA Sports FC, and Apex Legends were highlighted for their success, alongside a generative AI strategy.
Double Fine Lays Off 23 Staff Just Weeks After Splitting From Xbox
Double Fine Productions has laid off 23 employees, approximately 25% of its workforce, just weeks after announcing its return to independence from Xbox. Studio founder Tim Schafer stated the decision was necessary for the company's survival and ability to continue operating. The company has pledged to support the affected workers.
EA boss awarded $38.6M after year of franchise success, studio layoffs, and GenAI adoption
Electronic Arts CEO Andrew Wilson received $38.6 million in compensation for the 2026 fiscal year, a significant increase from previous years. The company reported success with franchises like Battlefield 6 and EA Sports FC, alongside the adoption of generative AI. Despite these successes, EA conducted layoffs at Full Circle and its Battlefield division.
Xbox still not making a profit on console sales despite price rise says report
A report indicates that Microsoft's Xbox Series X/S consoles continue to be sold at a significant loss, even after a recent price increase. Component shortages, particularly for RAM, have driven up costs, with Microsoft reportedly losing around $150 per unit sold. This contrasts with Sony's PlayStation 5, which has been profitable since 2021, and Nintendo's Switch, which traditionally sells hardware at a profit, though it also faces increased costs.
Double Fine Productions suffers layoffs weeks after going independent
Double Fine Productions has laid off 23 employees, nearly 25% of its workforce, just weeks after becoming an independent studio following its separation from Xbox. The studio stated the layoffs were necessary for its survival and to adjust to its new size as an independent entity. This follows Xbox's broader restructuring efforts which have also impacted other studios.
Double Fine making layoffs after being jettisoned by Xbox
Double Fine has laid off 23 employees after regaining its independence from Microsoft's Xbox division. Studio head Tim Schafer stated the decision was made for the survival of the studio and to adjust to its new size as an independent company. This follows Microsoft's significant restructure of its gaming division, which includes eliminating 3,200 roles across various studios.
After laying of Battlefield 6 devs, EA boss Andrew Wilson's bonus rose $8m to $38m last year, thanks to the game's success across "all milestones"
Electronic Arts CEO Andrew Wilson received a bonus of $38.7 million for the 2026 financial year, attributed to the success of games like Battlefield 6 and the execution of an AI strategy. This occurred despite significant layoffs across multiple studios during the same period. Other senior executives also received substantial bonuses and stock awards.
Double Fine hit with layoffs after exiting Xbox - "The people we are losing were all important"
Double Fine Productions has laid off 23 employees as it transitions back to an independent studio after exiting Xbox. Studio head Tim Schafer stated the cuts were necessary for the studio's short-term survival. While at Xbox, Double Fine released Psychonauts 2, Keeper, and Kiln.
Double Fine Productions cuts 23 roles as it becomes independent from Xbox
Double Fine Productions has laid off 23 employees, representing 25% of its workforce, following its full separation from Xbox and return to independent management. CEO Tim Schafer stated the cuts were necessary for the studio's survival and sustainability as a smaller team. Xbox confirmed the studio's independence and ownership of its intellectual property and back catalogue.
Double Fine Announces Layoffs For 23 Employees Following Xbox Split
Double Fine Productions, developer of Psychonauts, has laid off 23 employees following its separation from Xbox. Studio founder Tim Schafer stated the move was necessary for the studio's sustainability as an independent company. Xbox confirmed the return of intellectual property and runway for future games to Double Fine and other divested studios like Compulsion Games, Ninja Theory, and Undead Labs.
Comings and Goings
Double Fine Productions has laid off 25 percent of its staff following its transition back to independent status after splitting from Xbox. Xbox has commented on the situation, acknowledging the layoffs that occurred during this period of change for the studio.
Double Fine is independent again, but they’ve had to make layoffs
Double Fine has become an independent studio again, branching off from Xbox. This transition involved layoffs affecting 23 team members, which studio head Tim Schafer stated was necessary for the studio's survival and to achieve a sustainable size. An Xbox spokesperson confirmed Double Fine's full divestment, with the studio retaining its IP and catalog.
After gaining independence from Xbox, Double Fine are laying off a quarter of their staff
Double Fine Productions has laid off 23 employees, approximately 25% of its staff, following its recent split from Xbox and return to independent operations. Studio head Tim Schafer stated the decision was made for the survival of the studio as it transitions to a sustainable size. Xbox confirmed Double Fine is now fully independent and manages its own operations.
Double Fine Productions confirms layoffs after Xbox divestment
Double Fine Productions has confirmed layoffs affecting 23 employees as the studio seeks to ensure its future following its divestment from Xbox. Studio head Tim Schafer announced the staff reductions in a social media message. The studio recently released the party brawler Kiln.
Double Fine lays off about a third of its employees
Double Fine has laid off approximately one-third of its employees. The exact number of affected staff was not disclosed, but the move represents a significant reduction in the studio's workforce.
'Only the survival of our studio would make us consider such a painful action': Tim Schafer announces Double Fine layoffs just 3 weeks after Xbox cut it loose
Double Fine Productions has laid off 23 employees just three weeks after Xbox allowed the studio to become independent. Studio head Tim Schafer stated the layoffs were necessary for the studio's survival, emphasizing the need to scale down to a sustainable size. This move follows a broader restructuring by Xbox that also saw Compulsion Games spun off.
After escaping Xbox, Double Fine lays off 23 people as Tim Schafer says "only the survival of our studio would ever make us consider such a painful action"
Double Fine Productions has laid off 23 employees as it transitions back to an independent studio after years under Xbox ownership. Founder Tim Schafer stated the decision was made for the studio's survival and that they are committed to supporting the affected staff. The layoffs represent roughly a quarter of the studio's workforce.
Comings and Goings
John Hight has stepped down as president of Wizards of the Coast. The article also highlights new data indicating a significant increase in industry layoffs, with projections suggesting 14,259 individuals will be affected by the end of 2026.
New data suggests layoffs will affect 14,259 people by the end of 2026, up 78% from first forecast of the year
New data from the ASGC Games Industry Layoffs Tracker forecasts that job losses will reach 14,259 by the end of 2026, a significant increase from earlier projections. This trend indicates an acceleration in layoffs, with North America and Europe being the most affected regions. The projected numbers for 2026 are expected to surpass the total for 2024.
