Dear Villagers has confirmed that around 15 employees have been affected by a workforce reduction at owner Plug In Digital.

  • The French publisher is known for titles including Caravan SandWitch and The Forgotten City.
  • Plug In Digital said it is reorganising its operations after several difficult years for the games industry.
  • Game Developer reports that Dear Villagers employed 20 people before the layoffs were confirmed.
  • LinkedIn posts from affected staff indicate that most of the team was impacted, including almost the entire QA department.
  • Dear Villagers told Game Developer that it intends to continue publishing and producing games.

A Plug In Digital spokesperson said the reduction plan was "necessary" to adapt to rapid market changes and new economic realities, while acknowledging the impact on employees and teams that contributed to the company’s growth.

For games workers, the announcement is a reminder to track which studios and publishers are still actively commissioning work, and to keep a clear record of shipped projects, production responsibilities and transferable skills when assessing the market.

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