Layoffs – Page 3 – MMO Fallout

Red 5 Studios “Optimizing” Development Resources For Firefall

Firefall is completely fine, in case November’s significant layoffs and December’s inability to fulfill payroll didn’t make it clear enough. But you can’t expect a company to flat out admit that times are tough, at least if the public relations department wants to keep their jobs. So instead, Red 5 sent out a memo to the press stating that the company is still undergoing “optimization efforts” in preparation for the launch in Asia.

Red 5 Studios, Inc. is continuing to undergo reorganization and resource optimization efforts in order to secure our direction to meet the market needs of China and other Asian countries. The recent reorganization efforts include optimizing development resources and keeping bringing in new expertise and skill sets. Our support to Firefall and our players are continuous with content updates and customer support. As always Red 5 Studios is committed to providing the best gaming experiences to our audiences.

MMO Fallout will report further once we know how many employees have been strategically reorganized.

(Source: Massively)

Layoffs Hit NCSoft Customer Support

NCSoft today confirmed to Polygon that it is moving its customer support operations to a third party, during which approximately 16 jobs will be made redundant. The layoffs affect internal customer support staff at the NCWest offices in Austin, Texas, and are the final phase of restructuring that began last October.

According to Polygon’s source, the layoffs “amounted to the office’s entire customer support team.” NCSoft has denied that the changes will have any impact on former, current, or future customers.

(Source: Polygon)

Perfect World Suffers More Layoffs

Perfect World Entertainment is undergoing another round of layoffs, this time from the European division. According to an insider source over at Massively OP, the layoffs included five or six of the Russian staff, as well two community managers and an assistant product manager. Earlier this year, Perfect World laid off 18 employees from Cryptic Studios.

How PWE fared in the last quarter of 2014 is yet to be seen, as the company is nearly a month behind its usual quarterly filings and has yet to announce a date. The NASDAQ stock exchange has posted an expected date of April 6th for Perfect World’s final report.

(Source: Massively OP)

Perfect World Layoffs Include 18 From Cryptic Studios

Recent rumors about layoffs at Perfect World Entertainment have gathered stride as an anonymous employee contacted Massively Overpowered with more details. According to the employee, the layoffs include eighteen members of Cryptic Studios, or around 14% of the studio, with the Redwood Shores office hit the hardest.

More information is sure to become public as Perfect World Entertainment has yet to make an official statement.

(Source: MassivelyOP)

Frontier Developments Layoffs At Halifax Studio

Frontier Developments announced in an investor update today that 15 positions have been cut at the company’s studio in Halifax. While layoffs post game launch are not unexpected, this move seems to be another step in an ongoing consolidation out of Canada and into the primary office in Cambridge.

With its business emphasis now on two major self-published franchises, Elite: Dangerous and Coaster Park Tycoon, Frontier is re-focusing its development activities in Cambridge where the expertise in these franchises lies.

Job openings are still available on the Frontier Developments website as work continues on Coaster Park Tycoon.

(Source: Frontier Developments)

Transformers Universe Layoffs Coming

Jagex has confirmed that layoffs and employee shuffling are expected to hit the Transformers Universe team. In a statement to Games Industry, a Jagex spokesperson noted that the game has reached a stage in development where redundancies in staff can be shuffled over to other projects and in some unfortunate cases be laid off. While no layoffs have occurred yet, they will likely be happening at some point in the near future.

Jagex human resources have already begun the consultation process with the team, and are looking into repositioning individuals to other existing or emerging roles.

The UK developer is looking at shuffling its employees toward RuneScape, the recently announced card game Chronicle, and an unannounced title that may or may not be the unnamed fantasy MMO dubbed “Thirdscape” by fans that CEO Mark Gerhard very briefly spoke about four years ago.

(Source: Gamesindustry.biz)

NCWest Layoffs Inbound Across All Departments

NCSoft has confirmed a round of layoffs at its western operations, affecting all of its studios outside of ArenaNet. The layoffs come as a result of “restructuring of key operations within NC West,” as the developer pushes towards mobile and tablet gaming, as well as emerging technologies. Polygon has cited an unnamed source stating that over sixty members of the Carbine Studios team were laid off.

The statement by NCSoft:

Today we announced a restructuring of key operations within NC West. As a result of this restructuring, we are implementing staff reductions across our Western operations with the exclusion of ArenaNet. While decisions like this are always hard, they are necessary as we begin the implementation of a new strategy designed to strengthen our footing as a leader in global entertainment.

Moving forward, we will continue to focus on our core development capabilities and the intellectual properties (WildStar, Aion, Lineage, and Guild Wars franchises) that have made NCSOFT what it is today. However, we are looking to move into new business segments like mobile and tablet games as well as explore emerging technologies.

Again, the decision to reduce staff was not an easy one, and we sincerely wish everyone well in their next endeavors.

(Source: Polygon)

Turbine Layoffs Confirmed Over Twitter

It looks like Turbine is going through a round of layoffs. Earlier today, former Community Manager Rick Heaton tweeted “Thinking of my friends at #Turbine and #LOTRO and elsewhere today. I’m easy to find if you need me.” When asked if his tweet was related to layoffs at Turbine, he responded “sadly.”

The comment has seemingly been backed by another former Turbine employee, Robert Hess, who tweeted “My thoughts go out to my buddies over at Turbine today. Sounds like a round of layoffs. If folks need anything let me know.” Turbine has not yet commented to confirm or deny these claims.

(Source: Massively)

Zenimax Online Lays Off Staff

Zenimax Online Studios has confirmed that a number of employees have been laid off from the Elder Scrolls Online development team. The layoffs are an unfortunate but standard part of the process once major development has ended and the surplus of employees brought on to see the game to completion are no longer necessary.

“Now that we are nearly 6 months post launch, we have a thriving online community in a game that runs smoothly.”

The studio continues to invest heavily in Elder Scrolls Online with console release and expansions on their way.

(Source: Joystiq)

CCP Layoffs From Publishing Team

Eve Online developer CCP Games has confirmed to Gamasutra that a recent wave of layoffs has resulted in 49 employees being cut from the company. According to the report, teams from Eve Online, Eve: Valkyrie, Project Legion, and DUST 514 have not been affected by the layoffs.

“As part of our strategy to focus on the EVE Universe, today CCP conducted a restructuring that resulted in the layoff of 49 people in our publishing organisation,”

The developer has promised severance packages and job placement assistance to those affected.

(Source: Gamesindustry.biz)

Spread It:

Spread It:

Spread It:

Spread It:

Spread It:

Spread It:

Spread It:

Spread It:

Spread It:

Spread It: