Aheartfulofgames, the Spanish studio behind Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutants Unleashed, says it faces closure after its proprietor Outright Video games signalled its intention to make all staff on the studio redundant.
“This determination would consequence in the everlasting closure of our studio and the lack of employment for all 28 professionals who make up our staff,” reads the assertion from Aheartfulofgames, which was ready with help from the CSVI recreation employees union, a part of the CGT union in Spain.
UK-based writer Outright Video games specialises in family-friendly licensed titles, and it acquired the Madrid-based Aheartfulofgames in 2022. Beforehand, the Spanish studio had created the video games DreamWorks Dragons: Legends of The 9 Realms and DreamWorks Spirit: Fortunate’s Large Journey.
“The recreation met the industrial expectations set by Outright”
Assertion from Aheartfulofgames
“Following our acquisition, and after two years of continued improvement adapting to tight time and useful resource constraints, the Aheartfulofgames staff delivered Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutants Unleashed,” continues the assertion. “The undertaking was accomplished on schedule and with out manufacturing points. After launching in October 2024, the sport met the industrial expectations set by Outright.”
“In August 2024, Aheartfulofgames started the event of a brand new undertaking at Outright’s request, regardless of the licence not having been formally confirmed. This improvement was paused in January 2025 as a result of a reported lack of curiosity from the shopper in transferring ahead.”
The assertion then claims {that a} change in management at Outright prompted a change to “prioritising low-cost, fast-turnaround initiatives.”
The studio says that it began work on a extra formidable undertaking in February 2025, in addition to starting improvement “on a extra modest title in the hopes of securing an settlement.”
“Three months later, in April, we had been knowledgeable that each developments wouldn’t transfer ahead, this time with none rationalization, though the second was already at a complicated stage of manufacturing. That very same month, so far as we’re conscious, the [Outright Games] Group proceeded with new strategic acquisitions and hires.”
The assertion claims that over time, the frequency and scope of inner communications from Outright has progressively diminished, “culminating in Could 2025, when our studio was explicitly excluded from a company group assembly.”
It provides that Aheartfulofgames was verbally knowledgeable of the choice to close down the studio in June.
“Outright has justified the collective redundancy on the grounds of productive causes,” continues the assertion. “Nonetheless, their output continues by way of outsourced studios and their total exercise has not seen a big decline.”
“There isn’t a operational or financial justification for Outright Video games’ determination to destroy 28 jobs”
Assertion from Aheartfulofgames
The assertion factors in the direction of various upcoming titles resembling Dora Rainforest Rescue and Bratz: Rhythm and Fashion, noting that Outright Video games “selected to outsource improvement of those initiatives to 3rd events whereas our staff remained out there, working and receiving salaries, a choice for which no financial rationale has been offered.”
“Our operational capability would have allowed us to tackle one in all these initiatives in parallel with our ongoing work, thereby making higher use of sources whereas persevering with to develop strategic and artistic proposals geared toward securing extra formidable alternatives for Outright. Though we obtained, and proactively submitted a number of preliminary licence pitches, as talked about above, none had been formalised by Outright.”
The assertion concludes: “Aheartfulofgames has constantly delivered commercially profitable initiatives on time and met efficiency targets. There isn’t a operational or financial justification for Outright Video games’ determination to destroy 28 jobs with out providing any redeployment choices or exploring alternative routes to protect them.”
“Given the complexity of the scenario, the staff at Aheartfulofgames has fashioned a union part, supported by the Video Sport Union Coordination (CSVI). Our aim is to defend our rights and rise up for office dignity.”
GamesIndustry.biz reached out to Outright Video games for remark, and Outright Video games Group CEO Robin Flood offered the next assertion:
“We will verify that Outright Video games has entered into a proper session course of relating to the proposed closure of Aheartfulofgames.
“It is a troublesome scenario, and never a choice we’ve taken evenly. We recognise the staff’s dedication and perceive the influence this may occasionally have on these affected.
“Conversations are nonetheless ongoing with the worker representatives”
Robin Flood, Outright Video games Group
“We’ve been in discussions with studio administration for the previous six months, following an inner evaluate, and conversations are nonetheless ongoing with the worker representatives, as we work to verify the very best bundle and help for the staff.
“Outright Video games stays centered on delivering high-quality household leisure and constructing a sustainable construction to help that aim.”
A consultant of Outright Video games famous that the group can share solely restricted data whereas the formal session course of is ongoing.
The information comes following a wave of studio closures and redundancies in 2025, together with the current information that Spitgate 2 developer 1047 Video games plans to make a second wave of layoffs, following redundancies at Sandsoft, Supermassive, Virtuos, Purple Storm, and Microsoft, amongst others.