Twitch is rumored to be reducing its workforce by laying off 500 employees, which would account for 35% of its staff. Bloomberg reports that the job cuts may be announced as early as Wednesday, although Twitch has not made an official statement and declined to comment to Bloomberg. This news comes after the departure of former CEO Emmett Shear in March, who had been with the company for 16 years. Dan Clancy, the former vice president of creator and community experience, has since taken over as CEO.
At the same time, Twitch made the decision to reduce its staff by 400 employees. Amazon, the owner of Twitch, also implemented significant layoffs within the company, including 180 employees from its Crown Channel and Game Growth teams in November 2023. Twitch further announced the upcoming closure of its services in South Korea due to excessive operational costs, with the shutdown scheduled for February 2024. Regrettably, the trend of layoffs in the video game industry persists in the new year, following a challenging 2023 for developers. Unity is preparing to reduce its workforce by 25% in the near future.
Editor's P/S
As a Gen Z netizen, I am deeply concerned about the recent wave of layoffs in the tech industry, particularly the news of Twitch's potential job cuts. Twitch has become an integral part of the gaming community, providing a platform for creators to connect with their audiences and share their passion for gaming. The potential loss of 500 employees, representing 35% of Twitch's staff, is a significant blow to the company and the wider gaming ecosystem.
I understand that economic factors and market conditions may necessitate difficult decisions, but it is disheartening to see talented individuals losing their jobs. The impact of these layoffs extends beyond the immediate employees affected; it also affects the creators who rely on Twitch for their livelihood and the viewers who enjoy the content produced by these creators. I hope that Twitch and other companies facing similar challenges can find ways to navigate these difficult times while minimizing the impact on their employees and the communities they serve.
