Layoffs themes

2026-09-01 8 stories

• Double Fine will finally make Brutal Legend 2, but only if its new Kickstarter campaign reaches an almost impossible $100m 8 sources
• Laid off id Software developer says crunch on Doom: The Dark Ages' Revelations DLC was "brutal" with up to 17-hour days 3 sources
• Sega-owned Rovio is shutting down its Copenhagen studio 2 sources
• Life is Strange and Aphelion studio Don't Nod probably facing layoffs again, as it announces ominous-sounding "transformation initiative" 2 sources
• Dwarf Fortress creator says we have a natural lean towards human-made stories, 'but we're all going to be very sorely tested in the coming years' by AI 2 sources
• Supercell’s acquisition of Merge Mansion maker Metacore to be finalised this month
• Star Wars Zero Company Was Originally Pitched as a Titanfall Universe Game
• Despite horrendous layoffs, obscene hardware prices, and everything else, Saber Interactive exec says 'this is a great time to be in the industry'

2026-08-31 1 story

• Call of Duty: Black Ops designer turns to mobile after months of funding rejections

2026-08-29 1 story

• Modern gamers spoiled by Steam will never understand the joy of a MegaPak

2026-08-28 2 stories

• Xbox CEO Says Project Helix Includes a 'Family of Devices' 2 sources
• "Somebody will make the Half-Life 2 of AI" - after the Rideshare controversy, Saber CCO says something will come along and "change people's minds" about gen-AI 2 sources

2026-08-27 3 stories

• "All of the industry needs to start to innovate on affordability and efficiency" - Xbox's Asha Sharma wants change and "more choice" for people buying consoles 4 sources
• Forza Horizon 6 PS5 Launch Reportedly Scrubbed for 2026 2 sources
• Saber exec: The game industry must look beyond North America and dilute risk

2026-08-25 2 stories

• Report: Among Us 3D co-dev Schell Games lays off staff 2 sources
• Rovio Copenhagen to close after Sonic Blitz cancellation

2026-08-24 2 stories

• The people of video games on what gives them cause for hope
• Double Fine Productions regains ownership of IP and publishing rights following independence from Xbox

2026-08-23 2 stories

• GTA VI: all the news on Rockstar’s next entry in the Grand Theft Auto series
• 'We didn't have layoffs before, and now all of a sudden we have yearly layoffs': Bethesda artist says 'something has changed' under Microsoft

2026-08-22 1 story

• GTA 6 Leak and Wolverine Rage Are Symptoms of Gaming's Summer of Hate

2026-08-21 1 story

• Famed Studio Is Officially Making a Comeback After Xbox Layoffs

2026-08-20 4 stories

• 2XKO Is Ending Active Development Very Soon 10 sources
• Redfall developers begged Microsoft to come back and finish its last patch: 'I know we don't work here anymore, but can we please release this?' 2 sources
• Hundreds of union workers rally across North America to protest Xbox layoffs
• EA's Saudi takeover wouldn't have happened if the company's culture "had any semblance of a moral backbone", say staff fearing layoffs and ownership meddling

2026-08-19 6 stories

• Redfall Bosses Explain What Happened With The Failed Xbox Exclusive 2 sources
• Triple-A vets and accessibility experts launch new game dev co-op: Raze and Rebuild Studio
• The future of id Software — alumni from the legendary DOOM studio speaks on its future with Xbox. The good, and the bad.
• Take-Two's former AI guy is, in a twist, skeptical about AI now: 'The guy should be selling you the gold if he's actually got the gold'
• Fired Rockstar workers say you shouldn't boycott GTA 6 for them: 'We spent years pouring our hard work, skill, and creativity into making GTA'
• "Without us, Bethesda games aren’t Bethesda games": Rallies against Microsoft layoffs at Elder Scrolls studio continue, with unionised devs' morale "on the upswing"

2026-08-15 1 story

• Saber's AI Rideshare Stimulator controversy almost closes on high note with CEO apology, then he calls Portal scribe who mocked him an 'unsuccessful writer' 2 sources

2026-08-14 1 story

• Netflix's gaming "secret weapon" is no more - Oxenfree studio Night School is to close 4 sources

2026-08-13 2 stories

• Netflix closing Oxenfree developer Night School Studio and Moonloot Games 10 sources
• CD Projekt Red has laid off nine Project Sirius developers 3 sources

2026-08-12 3 stories

• Xbox CEO Asha Sharma's internal playthrough of The Elder Scrolls 6 disrupted by a giant inflatable rat, as Bethesda union protests cuts 6 sources
• Multiplayer Witcher spin-off Project Sirius reportedly hit by layoffs again, in "broader shift in development strategy" at CD Projekt Red 5 sources
• The Steam Frame needs to be more than a cool device if Valve want to reshape the VR market

2026-08-11 6 stories

• Until Dawn and Little Nightmares 3 studio Supermassive announces further layoffs, with as many as 75 people expected to lose their jobs 10 sources
• Xbox cut thousands of jobs, but a bigger threat to game development may be happening lower down the ladder — Turkey's AI dilemma is a perfect example
• SciPlay Games Israel has cut 20 jobs, says report
• Report: Crossfire dev That's No Moon lays off 14 staff
• Former Ubisoft Barcelona devs launch Dark Ritual Studios
• As Xbox head Asha Sharma reportedly visits Bethesda HQ, workers put up red flags representing laid off staff and a giant inflatable rat outside

2026-08-10 4 stories

• "They don't understand art" - id Software lead slams Xbox, says it's "impossible" to make games like 2016's Doom now 2 sources
• id Software dev says mass layoffs like Microsoft's are weakening the games industry, because developers 'don't have the incentive to care anymore'
• Former Ubisoft Barcelona workers launch Dark Ritual Studios, an indie developer focused on "craftsmanship over scale"
• 'Thank you so much for the best weekend ever': The id Software gang got together at QuakeCon, and it sure looks like everyone had a great time