Deck Nine, the studio behind Life Is Unusual entries Earlier than the Storm and True Colors, in addition to The Expanse: A Telltale Collection, laid off 20% of its employees right this moment.
The studio introduced the information in an announcement on X/Twitter right this moment, writing, “Like many others within the video games business proper now, Deck Nine has been affected by the sport business’s worsening market circumstances.”
“These individuals are superb, proficient, and superior builders,” the assertion provides. “They’ve made a huge effect throughout their time at Deck Nine Video games and we didn’t take this choice evenly. Please rent these individuals for those who can, they’re superb.”
— Deck Nine Video games (@DeckNineGames) February 27, 2024
Deck Nine did not specify how many individuals that 20% equates to, however IGN understands that the studio employed roughly between 100 and 130 staffers previous to right this moment’s layoffs.
A quantity of the laid-off staffers have been fast to publish in regards to the information on social media. Elizabeth Ballou, who served as a Narrative Designer at Deck Nine, wrote that each one staff affected by the layoffs can be getting solely two weeks of severance pay, regardless of time spent on the firm.
we’re all getting 2 weeks of severance, together with individuals who have labored on the studio for 7+ years.
— elizabeth ballou (@lizbetballou) February 27, 2024
Deck Nine beforehand went by way of one other spherical of layoffs final Could which, in accordance with an announcement despatched to GameDeveloper.com, affected 30 individuals. As talked about, the studio is greatest recognized for its work on its work on the Life Is Unusual collection, together with 2022’s Remastered Assortment, in addition to The Expanse title it co-developed with Telltale Video games.
As Deck Nine’s assertion notes, it is sadly solely the most recent in a protracted listing of layoffs to hit the video games business over the previous 12 months. Simply earlier right this moment, Sony introduced layoffs at PlayStation that may have an effect on 900 employees members, or about 8% of its international workforce. Microsoft, in the meantime, is shedding a stunning 1,900 individuals from its online game workforce, it was revealed earlier this 12 months. An estimated 10,000 recreation staff misplaced their jobs in 2023 alone, and this 12 months has continued to be relentless within the business.
Alex Stedman is a Senior Information Editor with IGN, overseeing leisure reporting. When she’s not writing or enhancing, you could find her studying fantasy novels or enjoying Dungeons & Dragons.