Production Management

The hidden cost of layoffs: Why AAA production stability depends on senior talent | Opinion

The article argues that recent industry-wide layoffs, particularly in AAA game development, are not just cost corrections but structural disruptions that erode institutional knowledge and decision-making capacity. This loss of senior talent, crucial for maintaining continuity and managing complex projects, destabilizes production and risks the long-term competitiveness of North American studios. The author suggests that external development can serve as a continuity layer if treated as infrastructure rather than a transactional cost.