Layoffs News
The latest Layoffs coverage curated for game developers.
GamesIndustry.biz says layoffs are still reshaping studio morale, and the people left behind need more than a “back to normal” message. HR leaders from Hestia Talent Partners and Compulsion Games …
Game Developer reports that Hyper Light Drifter studio Heart Machine has laid off most of its staff, pushing the team to an existential crossroads. The downsizing follows a broader contraction …
GamesIndustry.biz reports Heart Machine is at risk of closure after a publishing deal collapsed, forcing the Hyper Light Drifter studio to lay off nearly all staff. Studio head Alx Preston …
Game Developer reports that MindsEye studio Build a Rocket Boy appears to be winding down after another round of layoffs. Over the past 24 hours, multiple staffers have posted farewell …
GamesIndustry.biz reports another round of layoffs at Build A Rocket Boy, following the troubled launch of MindsEye. The studio had already cut staff after June 2025’s buggy release, and the …
KO_OP has cut 13 roles, hitting the worker-run studio behind Goodbye Volcano High and Young Suns. The layoffs add another warning sign for mid-sized teams trying to balance ambitious production …
GamesIndustry.biz reports that Polyarc Games is shutting down after 12 years, ending the studio behind Moss and Glassbreakers. The Seattle team said it is winding down active development, and it …
GamesIndustry.biz details how unionisation has moved from a fringe idea to a practical force in studios worldwide. Workers have won pay rises, AI protections, hybrid work, and stronger layoff terms, …
Xbox is stepping in to publish Kojima Productions' Physint after PlayStation walked away from the project. The move lands amid a turbulent stretch for Xbox, which has already seen mass …
GamesIndustry.biz reports that nearly 1,900 Blizzard workers have ratified their first union contract with Microsoft after more than two years of bargaining. The deal covers AI safeguards, crediting, remote work, …
Blizzard union workers have ratified a first contract covering about 1,900 employees, locking in guardrails around generative AI, layoffs, and remote or hybrid work. For game teams, it’s a notable …
GamesIndustry.biz reports Star Stable Entertainment has cut 20% of its staff in a restructuring aimed at protecting the long-term future of Star Stable Online. Interim CEO James Watkins said the …
FuturLab has reportedly laid off developers without first informing team leads or managers, leaving parts of the studio to learn about the cuts after the fact. Staff have also accused …
Don't Nod is weighing a plan to cut 90 jobs in France as it tries to extend its runway. The Life is Strange studio has also warned it may not …
GamesIndustry.biz reports FuturLab has cut seven staff after cancelling a non-PowerWash project in pre-production. CEO Kirsty Rigden said the game would have cost more than it was projected to make, …
GamesIndustry.biz reports Don't Nod may not have enough funding to keep operating beyond January 31, 2027 without new external financing. The company is also restructuring in France, with up to …
GamesIndustry.biz reports that Tim Schafer says Double Fine avoided closure after Xbox layoffs by regaining its IP and funding, then shrinking back to a sustainable size. The studio is now …
GamesIndustry.biz reports Square Enix has denied it is exploring a take-private deal after a Japanese magazine story sent its stock up 8.3%. The company says no such plan is under …
GamesIndustry.biz says Amir Satvat used Gamescom Dev’s opening keynote to frame the games business as a reset, not a temporary slump. He warned 2026 layoffs could hit 14,666, while headcount …
Rovio is closing its Copenhagen studio after Sega canceled Sonic Blitz, leaving the team facing redundancies that have not yet been finalized. For developers, it’s another reminder of how quickly …