Ghostunner Publisher's Parent Company Announces Staff Layoffs
Significant layoffs hit the company behind Ghostrunner publisher, impacting 30% of their workforce
Digital Bros, the company responsible for publisher 505 Games, recently downsized its workforce by 30%. 505 Games is renowned for releasing popular titles like Control, Ghostrunner, the sequel to Abzu, and the PC edition of Death Stranding.
In an official statement, Digital Bros verified the layoffs, stating, "To prioritize top-notch and well-established games, Digital Bros has reevaluated its ongoing projects and will consequently fine-tune its organizational structure to adapt to the ever-changing competitive landscape in the foreseeable future, aiming for enhanced operational efficiency."
The company stated that the restructuring program will lead to a decrease of about 30% in the global workforce, primarily impacting the studios. Digital Bros noted that the video game industry has changed during the pandemic, with consumers becoming more discerning in their choice of new games and showing a preference for established franchises, resulting in longer playtimes. Consequently, the company will prioritize the production of sequels and updated versions of successful games, allocating a limited budget for new larger projects.
The video game industry has experienced significant layoffs in recent times. Amazon Games recently laid off 180 employees, while other major publishers like Bungie, BioWare, and Ubisoft have also made staff cuts.
One of the recent releases from 505 Games is Ghostrunner 2, which came out last month. Additionally, 505 Games is set to publish Eiyuden Chronicle: Hundred Heroes, scheduled for release on April 23, 2024.
Editor's P/S
As an enthusiastic fan of 505 Games, I am deeply saddened by the news of the layoffs. The company has published some of my favorite games, including Control, Ghostrunner, and the sequel to Abzu. I am concerned about the impact these layoffs will have on the quality of future games from 505 Games.
While I understand the need for companies to adapt to changing market conditions, I am worried that the layoffs will lead to a loss of talent and creativity at 505 Games. I hope that the company will be able to weather this storm and continue to publish high-quality games in the future. In the meantime, I will continue to support 505 Games and its talented developers.
