TimeSplitters developer Free Radical Design will be shutting down following a 30-day consultation process that didn’t turn out in their favor. Read on to learn more about the situation and the harrowing trend of layoffs in the video game industry.
Free Radical Design to Shut Down After Failing 30-Day Consultation
News of Free Radical Design’s imminent shutdown has been circulating since late November 2023, when Embracer Group’s CEO Lars Wingefors announced that the studio would close by December 11, 2023, following a 30-day consultation process.
The worst has come to pass and Wingefors’ announcement has come to fruition. Although there are no official announcements from either Free Radical Design or Embracer Group regarding the studio’s foreclosure, signs point to the truth of the situation. Visiting the developer’s website reveals an error message reading "404 Company Not Found" followed by a particularly melancholic frowing face.
Former Team Members Bid Farewell To Free Radical
As if the developer website’s shutdown wasn’t enough of an indication of the studio’s current state, former team members have also taken to social media to express their sadness and mourning for the studio’s shutdown.
"As the sun sets on my last day at Free Radical Design, I feel privileged to have had the opportunity to collaborate both with industry legends and with emerging talents who will no doubt shape the future of the industry.", Quality Assurance Manager Kevin Ellis said in a LinkedIn post.
"To all who lent their skills, dedication and creativity, you are the heartbeat of Free Radical Design. As we part ways, I'm confident your talents will persist in shaping gaming's trajectory. Let's carry forth the spirit of innovation, resilient against industry challenges, fueled by an unwavering passion for gaming. Here's to new beginnings and the everlasting legacy of Free Radical Design," Ellis continued.
Senior Gameplay Programmer Adam Sims also bid his goodbyes through LinkedIn, saying "So long Free Radical Design, my first experience in the Games Industry and my first experience being made redundant. It definitely had its ups and downs but I can say for sure that the team I worked with were fantastic, and I wish them all the best! I'll miss you all ".
In The Wake of Embracer Group’s “Comprehensive Restructuring Program”
Free Radical Design’s shutdown despite having a new TimeSplitter game in the works is hardly surprising when you consider their parent company’s track record for layoffs in 2023 alone. Just earlier this year in mid-November, a massive staff layoff swept through Embracer, taking with it the livelihoods of 904 individuals.
Such sweeping layoffs are the result of the company’s "Comprehensive Restructuring Program", which was designed to recoup losses from a collapsed $2bn dollar deal with Savvy Game Group.
An Estimated 9000 Layoffs For The Industry in 2023 Alone
Embracer Group’s continued staff layoffs and studio shutdowns are building on a harrowing trend that’s hounding the video game industry in 2023. Although it’s one of the forerunners for the trend - with nearly 964 layoffs under its belt - it’s far from being the biggest contributor to the industry’s apparent decline in the workforce.
According to videogameslayoffs.com, a website made by developer Farham Noor to track 2023’s video game layoffs, the five companies that laid off the most workers in 2023 are, in order: Unity (1165), ByteDance (1,000), Embracer Group (964), Epic (830), and Amazon (715).
Other studios to join this wave of layoffs include Ascendant Studios, Telltale Games, CD Projekt, Riot Games, EA, Take-Two, Bioware, Crystal Dynamics, Sony, and many more. A more comprehensive list can be found on the aforementioned website.
Industry Professionals Theorize the Cause for Such Sweeping Layoffs
The cause for such a massive crash in the workforce hasn’t been pinned down yet, though industry professionals have come forward with their theories.
"In gaming, the significance of ‘efficiency’ has risen dramatically over the last 18 months," said Industry Consultant Serkan Toto. "There is a much higher sense of urgency now to save costs and run slimmer organizations. The pressure is on for game industry CEOs to pull out the hammer and handle the biggest cost block of them all, namely staff. And this is what we have seen in 2023."
VGC Contributor Christopher Dring put forth a different theory, pinning the reason for such layoffs on the industry’s surge in sales during the COVID-19 lockdown period. "The end of lockdowns is certainly one of the big reasons for the fall," Dring said. "It was inevitable that gaming was going to suffer a bit as more people venture outside, go to the beach, see friends, pop to the cinema, and so on. And actually, the games market is still up over pre-pandemic levels."
Only time will tell if this trend will continue well into 2024. We may be at its tail end, right at the cusp of another boom, but until that’s proven, these layoffs serve as a harbinger of what’s to come.
Source:
VGC: Why are video game companies laying off staff?
Video Game Industry Layoffs Tracker by Farhan Noor
