OtherSide Entertainment cuts 17 jobs after Argos cancellation
OtherSide Entertainment has announced the cancellation of its in-development multiplayer immersive sim Argos: Riders on the Storm, resulting in the layoff of 17 staff members effective end of May. The studio, helmed by Looking Glass Studios veterans Warren Spector and Paul Neurath—key figures behind acclaimed titles like Deus Ex and System Shock 2—cited harsh industry conditions as the primary reason for the decision.
In a statement to Game Developer, the studio acknowledged that under normal circumstances, Argos “could have been a huge success,” but assessed the current market environment as “brutally challenging.” This unfavorable landscape made the project “unviable for now,” forcing the difficult decision to cancel development and reduce headcount accordingly.
The cancellation underscores ongoing turbulence in the gaming industry, where ambitious projects increasingly face financial viability challenges. Despite the pedigree of its leadership and the potential of its concept, OtherSide determined that proceeding with development was no longer sustainable given present market conditions. The studio’s assessment reflects broader industry pressures that have impacted numerous developers and publishers over the past year, with many studios reassessing project scope and profitability to weather economic uncertainty.