Layoff Report
15 storiesEditorial conclusions draw on severance disclosure, project impact assessment and survivor workload risk, with uncertainty stated when the implementation is incomplete or changing. Leadership accountability may define the opportunity, while leadership succession often exposes the limitation that matters most to players. This boundary prevents an incidental reference to Layoff Report from displacing a more accurate category within Studios, Publishers & Business.
DON'T NOD faces survival crisis after Aphelion launch and job cuts
DON'T NOD has issued a stark warning about its future, revealing plans to cut up to 90 jobs and admitting it may not survive beyond January 2027 after the commercial failure of Aphelion and a sharp drop in revenue
Double Fine regains independence after Xbox exit and major staff cuts
Double Fine has returned to full independence following Xbox's divestment and a quarter of its staff being laid off. Founder Tim Schafer outlines the studio's survival strategy and creative future as it navigates a challenging industry landscape
Bit Reactor Furloughs Most Staff Days Before Star Wars Zero Company Launch
Bit Reactor, developer of Star Wars Zero Company, placed the majority of its team on unpaid leave just ahead of the game's successful launch, raising questions about the studio's future and ongoing support for the title
Fired Rockstar Staff Urge GTA 6 Fans Not to Boycott Upcoming Release
Rockstar employees dismissed after alleged leaks have asked players not to boycott GTA 6, instead encouraging support for their legal fight as the game's November launch approaches and union recognition efforts continue
CD Projekt Red Reduces Project Sirius Team as Witcher Spin-Off Faces Layoffs
CD Projekt Red has confirmed a round of layoffs affecting the team behind Project Sirius, the multiplayer Witcher spin-off, as the studio adjusts development resources and continues work on multiple major titles
id Software lead warns Xbox layoffs risk undermining studio quality
id Software's Chris Hayes has criticised Microsoft's looming Xbox layoffs, warning that repeated staff cuts are eroding developer motivation and weakening studios across the platform
Doom Developer Criticises Xbox After Major id Software Layoffs
id Software's lead services programmer has publicly criticised Xbox following July's layoffs, raising concerns about the studio's future and Microsoft's approach to game development after significant staff reductions
id Software Faces Uncertainty as Xbox Layoffs Reshape Studio
A lead developer at id Software has raised concerns about Xbox's approach to game development after significant layoffs, questioning whether the studio can maintain its creative standards and technical output with a reduced team
That's No Moon Layoffs Impact Crossfire Development Team
Crossfire developer That's No Moon has confirmed a round of layoffs affecting technical and environmental artists, raising questions about the studio's ongoing AAA project and its future release plans
EA goes private after $55bn Saudi-led buyout as layoffs expected
EA has officially completed its $55 billion acquisition by Saudi Arabia's Private Investment Fund and partners, with reports indicating significant job cuts may follow as the company seeks to reduce costs
Battlefield 6 Drives EA CEO's £38m Payday After Record Sales
EA's CEO has received a substantial pay rise following Battlefield 6's record-breaking launch, but the developers behind the game were laid off just months after release, raising questions about industry priorities
Lightspeed LA Restructures Last Sentinel, Staff Impacted by Creative Shift
Lightspeed LA has announced a major change in the creative direction of Last Sentinel, resulting in staff layoffs and a renewed focus on meeting player expectations for the upcoming open-world action game
Xbox Game Pass Strategy Backfires as Subscriber Numbers Stall
Microsoft's ambitious Game Pass subscription was meant to revitalise Xbox, but mounting losses, missed targets and studio sell-offs now raise questions about the future of the service and the platform itself
ZA/UM Announces Layoffs After Zero Parades: For Dead Spies Launch
ZA/UM, the studio behind Disco Elysium, has confirmed layoffs affecting up to 32 staff members following the release of Zero Parades: For Dead Spies, citing commercial challenges despite critical praise
Xbox Restructuring Shifts Focus to Legacy Franchises Over New Ideas
Xbox has announced a major restructure, cutting 3,200 jobs and parting ways with several studios. The company is now prioritising established franchises like Halo and Fallout, raising questions about the future of original game development