Unity plans to lay off 1,800 employees, amounting to 25% of its workforce, following the departure of its CEO months ago. According to Reuters, the company announced the job cuts in a regulatory filing and internal memo, with interim CEO Jim Whitehurst stating that the decision aims to prioritize the core business and ensure long-term success and profitability.
The company informed Reuters that the layoffs will affect all teams, regions, and business areas, and that more changes are on the way. Last year, Unity faced criticism for implementing a "runtime fee" for game developers, but later reversed the decision and updated their policy. In addition, former CEO John Riccitiello resigned, and Whitehurst took over as interim CEO.
2023 proved to be a turbulent year for developers in the video game industry, with layoffs occurring at major companies such as Electronic Arts, Bungie, and Ubisoft.
Editor's P/S
As an enthusiastic fan of Unity, I am deeply saddened by the news of its reported 25% workforce reduction. Unity has been a pioneer in the gaming industry, providing developers with powerful tools and technologies to create immersive and engaging experiences. The news of these layoffs is a significant blow to the gaming community and raises concerns about the future of Unity's commitment to innovation and support for developers.
While I understand the need for companies to make difficult decisions to ensure long-term success, I believe that Unity's decision to cut such a large portion of its workforce may have detrimental effects on its ability to maintain its position as a leader in the industry. Unity's strength lies in its talented and passionate employees, and losing such a significant number of them could potentially hinder the company's ability to deliver cutting-edge technology and support its developer community effectively.