Life is Strange: True Colors Studio Reveals Workforce Reductions

Deck Nine, the developer of Life is Strange: True Colors, has recently laid off 20% of its staff due to "worsening marketing conditions." This trend of significant cutbacks is not unique to the Life is Strange: True Colors developer, as numerous other studios are also making similar moves in response to the current circumstances.

Life is Strange: True Colors, released in 2021, was hailed as a successful return to form for the franchise following a less well-received second installment. Deck Nine, the developer behind the game, had previously worked on the prequel to the original title, Life is Strange: Before the Storm. Taking full control of the series after the original developer, Don't Nod, moved on to other projects, Deck Nine introduced players to challenging decisions typical of Life is Strange games, and presented an emotionally impactful narrative centered around a new supernatural ability. However, the industry has since evolved significantly since the release of Life is Strange: True Colors.

Life is Strange: True Colors Developer Lays Off 20% of its Workforce

Deck Nine Games confirmed on Twitter that they are laying off 20% of the studio's staff due to "worsening market conditions." They are encouraging other studios to consider hiring the talented developers who are now available. Larian, the studio behind Baldur's Gate 3, has also urged laid-off developers to apply for positions, showing solidarity during this challenging time for the industry.

Twitter article posted by Deck Nine Games

However, this round of layoffs is not the first for the company. In May 2023, Deck Nine Games laid off 30 staff before the release of The Expanse: The Telltale Series, which it co-developed alongside Telltale Games. This makes it a brutal second round of layoffs in less than a 12-month period. Despite the strong performance of Life is Strange: True Colors back in 2021, it hasn't been enough to exempt the company from this industry-wide issue a few years later. With this news in mind, it'll be interesting to see how the future of the Life is Strange franchise pans out, with less staff to work on whatever comes next.

An image of two characters from the game interacting - It's a sorry state of affairs in the games industry right now

The current situation in the games industry is disheartening. Layoffs are being reported on a daily basis, affecting numerous studios. The recent layoffs at PlayStation led to the closure of the London studio and the cancellation of an unannounced Twisted Metal reboot. The industry has been facing a relentless wave of bad news, with the latest blow being the announcement of layoffs at Deck Nine. Unfortunately, there seems to be no end in sight to these unfortunate events. All we can do now is hope for a turnaround soon, allowing these talented individuals to find new opportunities.

Editor's P/S:

The recent layoffs at Deck Nine, the developer behind Life is Strange: True Colors, are a stark reminder of the challenges facing the games industry. While True Colors was a critical and commercial success, it hasn't been enough to insulate the studio from the worsening market conditions that are impacting numerous other studios. The industry is facing a relentless wave of layoffs, affecting both large and small studios alike, and it's disheartening to see so many talented developers losing their jobs.

It's important to remember that these layoffs are not a reflection of the quality of the games being developed. The industry is simply going through a tough period, and studios are being forced to make difficult decisions to stay afloat. Hopefully, the current situation will improve soon, and these talented developers will be able to find new opportunities where they can continue to create great games.