Highlights
- Acclaimed PlayStation studio Media Molecule is making a reduction in its workforce, affecting a significant portion of employees. Layoffs continue to impact the gaming industry.
- Despite Media Molecule's creative and innovative approach to game development, it has not been immune to the challenges and fluctuations faced by the industry.
- The layoffs at Media Molecule highlight the complex landscape of the gaming world.
Acclaimed PlayStation studio Media Molecule is laying off approximately 20 employees. The UK game developer, renowned for its creative and imaginative titles, is making a reduction in its workforce that will affect a significant portion of the employees at Media Molecule.
Media Molecule is a respected name in the gaming industry, known for its innovative and artistic approach to game development. The studio has a remarkable portfolio that includes titles such as Dreams, a game where players can create their own games. However, despite Media Molecule's acclaimed work and contributions to the PlayStation platform, it seems that it has not been immune to the challenges and fluctuations faced by the industry.
As first revealed by GLHF sources, Media Molecule is laying off approximately 20 employees. The studio, whose decision joins another PlayStation-owned company in its wave of layoffs, aims to reduce its headcount from around 135 employees to 115. According to the source, the news was delivered to the employees during an internal meeting on October 24. Media Molecule also made a statement on Twitter in which it mentioned "significant strategic changes during the past year" that have led to this decision. "We have had to make the difficult decision to begin the consultation process for team members within certain departments of the studio." Media Molecule assured that it will provide its best support to the impacted employees during this process.
Media Molecule bid farewell to its co-founder earlier this year, an announcement that came in the same month that the company revealed that, despite the initial success of Dreams, it would stop supporting it.
The year 2023 has witnessed a series of substantial layoffs across various companies, echoing the broader impact of economic and industry shifts, affecting not only the people losing their jobs, but also titles like The Last of Us multiplayer, which might be on hold because of layoffs. While the specifics of Media Molecule's decision remain undisclosed, it underscores the complex landscape facing both game developers and the larger gaming industry.
The news of layoffs at Media Molecule serves as a reminder that even studios known for their creative brilliance must navigate the ever-evolving terrain of the gaming world. The company has stated its commitment to supporting the Dreams community and will share information about future plans at a later time. Media Molecule's future announcements will be watched closely.
Source: GLHF