- The gaming industry has been facing layoffs constantly in 2024.
- The director of publishing at Larian Studios has said that these layoffs are sick.
- He states that they can be easily avoided and are done to please stakeholders.
Layoffs in the gaming industry have become extremely common. What started in 2023 has turned into another disaster shortly into 2024. Even giants like PlayStation and Xbox have laid off many employees. This resulted in thousands of job cuts.
Games like Twisted Metal were also canceled. Meanwhile, Microsoft stated layoffs were a necessary measure. However, Larian Studios believes publisher greed is to be blamed. One developer from the studio states that these layoffs are sick.
Why it matters: The job cuts have hurt developer morale, negatively impacting the industry since developers are more concerned about their jobs than creating great games.
In a recent interview with Gamefile, Michael Douse, the director of publishing at Larian Studios, explained in detail the current layoff situation in the gaming industry.
He explained that the layoffs are not as necessary as some would lead us to believe. Ultimately, he shares the same opinion as Larian Studios CEO Swen Vincke.
None of these companies are at risk of going bankrupt. They were just at risk of p***ing off shareholders.
-Michael Douse
Douse further explained the process of layoffs. According to him, these layoffs are not a coincidence, stating that companies had already planned the cuts and just wanted a green light from the shareholders.
With everyone in the industry following this practice, greenlighting layoffs is easier than ever. This whole process makes Michael Douse sick, and he thinks that these layoffs should never have happened.
The layoffs are kind of sick.
-Michael Douse
Based on what Douse has revealed, it seems like shareholders are to be blamed. The board does have a lot of power in decision-making, so this isn’t surprising. He further explained that this is one of the main reasons why Larian Studios refuses to go public.
Given the industry’s current state, it may never go public. However, the developer is confident in making a game that more people will enjoy.
Larian Studios already has two major games in mind, but neither of them will be Baldur’s Gate 3 sequels. The team’s ultimate RPG will not be possible before the PS6, so there is a lot of waiting to be done for the fans.
Still, its track record inspires confidence, giving hope that this wait will end up worth it in the long run.
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[News Editor]
Obaid is pursuing a Law degree while working as a content writer. He has worked as a gaming writer for over three years because of his passion for the medium and reporting the latest updates in the industry. Having played hundreds of games, Obaid finds himself coming back to Elden Ring, Cyberpunk 2077, and Red Dead Redemption 2, with these games being among his favorites. He has also been mentioned on highly regarded websites, such as Wccftech, Metro UK, PS Lifestyle, GamePressure, VGC, and Gamespot.
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