Lost Boys Interactive – contributors to Gearbox’s Borderlands 3 and Tiny Tina’s Wonderlands games – has just been hit by Embracer Group’s latest round of layoffs with a sizable portion of the studio let go. Read on to learn more about the situation.
Lost Boys Interactive Hit by Sizable Layoffs
As confirmed by a spokesperson from Lost Boys Interactive, a sizable portion of the Gearbox-owned studio was getting laid off as part of its parent company, Embracer Group’s restructuring program.
"Lost Boys Interactive made the difficult decision to restructure our studio to ensure we can succeed in spite of headwinds facing the industry right now," read the official statement. "Unfortunately, this does mean we will separate from some of our team members and we’re working closely with those affected. We know this is a hard time for this talented and experienced group of people and will provide support and assistance through this transition to those leaving."
Lost Boys Team Members Take to LinkedIn
No official statements regarding the number of employees laid off have been released, although many team members have taken to LinkedIn to confirm how the decision affected them. Illustrator Greg Lambrakis and animator Alli Gehrer were two of the many who voiced their concerns.
Art Director Nick Barone also shared their thoughts on the matter: "Yesterday was easily the hardest day of my career. Even though I was spared in the company-wide layoff at Lost Boys Interactive, so many talented artists and flat-out fantastic people were let go."
Caught In the Wake of Embracer Group’s "Restructuring Program"
Lost Boys Interactive is just the latest casualty in a long line of studios caught in the wake of Embracer Group’s "Comprehensive Restructuring Program". Presumably enacted to recoup losses after a failed deal with Savvy Games, this program has seen the laying off of nearly a thousand employees in 2023.
It’s also seen the shutdown of many studios under its conglomerate and the cancellation of 15 upcoming titles. It’s currently unclear how much farther this restructuring program will go and what other studios are likely to follow in Lost Boys Interactive’s partial restructuring, but if 2023’s industry trend is any indication, video game studios are in for a rough year.
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Gearbox-owned studio Lost Boys Interactive hit by "sizable" layoffs
