Blackbird Interactive, the developer behind Homeworld 3, introduced immediately that it has laid off greater than 40 staff after a number of of its upcoming initiatives have been canceled.
The information was first made public on LinkedIn (noticed first by X consumer @bogorad222) by James Marshall, who’s a Technical Artist at Blackbird Interactive. Marshall famous that over 40 folks have been laid off, and IGN might independently affirm that 41 staff have been let go by the studio.
In a press release despatched to IGN, a spokesperson for Blackbird Interactive confirmed the studio had layoffs and that 41 staff have been impacted.
“We have needed to take the unlucky step of shedding some mates this week. This yr has been extremely powerful on the business as an entire. In consequence, we have had a number of unannounced initiatives canceled and yesterday have been pressured to say goodbye to 41 of our crew members. As an unbiased studio, Blackbird Interactive has at all times been a close-knit crew. Our high precedence helps place these affected for this subsequent stage of their careers. We’re providing a collection of prolonged advantages and severance to assist ease this transition. No introduced initiatives will likely be affected by this transfer, and we’ll proceed to ship on these video games.”
Blackbird Interactive was based in 2007. As famous on GamesIndustry.biz’s web site, Blackbird was based by senior members who beforehand labored for EA and Relic Leisure, the latter of which developed the primary two video games within the Homeworld franchise. The studio can be one among a handful of builders that has carried out a four-day work week, which it went into impact final yr.
Blackbird Interactive has labored on a number of initiatives with its first sport, titled Homeworld: Deserts of Kaharak, launched in 2016. The studio additionally helped Minecraft developer Mojang Studios co-develop Minecraft Legends. Blackbird is at present engaged on Homeworld 3, which is about to launch subsequent yr on PC. Moreover, Blackbird is engaged on Earthless, a sci-fi-themed card sport introduced in June, that will likely be printed by Team17 and is about to launch in Steam Early Entry someday subsequent yr.
Blackbird Interactive is one among a number of studios to have been hit with layoffs this yr. Different studios hit with layoffs embrace The Callisto Protocol developer Placing Distance Studios, Witcher and Cyberpunk 2077 developer CD Projekt Purple, and Embracer Group-owned Campfire Cabal.
Taylor is a Reporter at IGN. You possibly can observe her on Twitter @TayNixster.
