Just when you thought it was over... yep more layoffs

Mark Dygert

http://www.shacknews.com/onearticle.x/61902

Warner Bros Interactive has laid off about 25 employees across its three Seattle-based studios--Monolith Productions (F.E.A.R. 2), Snowblind Studios (Baldur's Gate: Dark Alliance) and Surreal Software (The Suffering)

My condolences to those now looking for a job. 25 total across 3 studios, I'm glad they didn't close any.

oXYnary

ouch. Maybe.. Its PR people and middle management? (One can dream)

JacqueChoi

Ugh.

Can they please make No One Lives Forever 3, and Shogo 2 before they start canning everyone?

skylebones

Damn, I was really hoping things would get better this year. This isn't a good way to start things.

bounchfx

just saw this, very sad. I hope they all find new jobs soon regardless of what their positions were.

Mongrelman

Sorry to hear this really hope everyone manages to pull through ok.

Nick Carver

Rebellion in the UK is reportedly closing its Derby studio as well:

http://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/rebellion-to-close-derby-studio

Been on the cards for a while I think.

Mongrelman

Yarp time to update my portfolio

Frump

Worst news since Spiderman 4 being canceled!

Just kidding... this is obviously much worse news. Good luck to those affected!

seforin

Jesus the Drama of the game industry

yup 2 of my buddys were part of the lay offs this time around. And just when you thought "Hey maybe they will start hiring again and we dont have to be unemployed bums anymore"

Then this happens like a sack of potatoes to the face.

adam

I'll gladly take the tomatoes that'll be tossed at me for saying this, but 25 people out of around 400 people isn't much of a layoff to get worked up over. And, it sounds more like yearly cleansing of low performing staff members then budget cuts.

It's good for every studio to let the weaker staff members go ever 12-18 months. That's roughly 6 people for every 100 staff members.

That said, I wish no one unemployment and hopefully they land on their feet somewhere soon.

Muzzoid

this sucks ... But at least it isnt worse.

Vailias

Snowblind just had like 3 positions on gamasutra this past week...

thomasp

EA montreal seems to have layed off some people from their team(s) as well.

Joshua Stubbles

adam wrote: »

I'll gladly take the tomatoes that'll be tossed at me for saying this, but 25 people out of around 400 people isn't much of a layoff to get worked up over. And, it sounds more like yearly cleansing of low performing staff members then budget cuts.

It's good for every studio to let the weaker staff members go ever 12-18 months. That's roughly 6 people for every 100 staff members.

That said, I wish no one unemployment and hopefully they land on their feet somewhere soon.

QFT
Small purges like this are normal. Sucks hard to see those we know affected by it, but it's not that bad.