Spin Master lays off Paw Patrol: The Game devs two days after launch
Spin Master laid off the entire Originator Inc. studio just two days after the launch of Paw Patrol: The Game on July 6. The free-to-play mobile game, based on the popular children’s animated show produced by Spin Master, became available as the studio closure was announced.
Originator Inc. had been acquired by Spin Master in 2021 for $29 million, bringing the studio’s portfolio—including the Endless educational game series—under the parent company’s control. Despite five years of ownership and the recent development of the Paw Patrol mobile title, Spin Master proceeded with laying off the entire studio.
A Spin Master representative confirmed the layoffs to Game Developer, stating that the company made “the decision to transition Originator’s products and operations to the Sago Mini Team in Toronto.” This consolidation move represents a significant shift in the parent company’s strategy regarding the acquired studio, with operations transferred to Spin Master’s Toronto-based division.
The abrupt layoff timing immediately following a product launch highlights broader patterns of industry consolidation and operational restructuring within larger publisher organizations.