Diablo IV co-developer Lost Boys Interactive announces another wave of layoffs
Lost Boys Interactive, an Embracer-owned support studio best known for its work on Diablo IV and Tiny Tina's Wonderlands, has announced its second round of layoffs in 2024.
The details:
The Wisconsin-based studio confirmed on LinkedIn that it has laid off an undisclosed number of employees, affecting its remote staff in the US and Canada. The developer also confirmed that it intends to assist those affected in finding new jobs elsewhere. “Lost Boys Interactive has made the very difficult decision to reduce our overall headcount in accordance with local laws and consultation processes,” the studio wrote. “As a remote first company, this impacts employees across several states. We are committed to supporting our affected staff in finding new positions as quickly as possible.”
Lost Boys explained that as a support studio, its status is greatly affected by its partners. As a result of the current state of the economy and gaming industry, the developer has had to "reassess our operations to align with the evolving needs of our business and our partners," as there are fewer opportunities overall. “Today is a challenging day for Lost Boys Interactive as we face the difficult decision to reduce our workforce,” said CEO Shaun Nivens. “We recognize the impact of this decision on our team members, who have contributed greatly to our success. Decisions involving staff reductions are never made lightly, and this action was taken only after considering all other options. We are committed to supporting them in every way we can during this transition.”
This is the studio's second round of layoffs this year, after it laid off a "sizable portion" of its workforce in January. While the exact number of cuts was not disclosed, it impacted employees at all levels and disciplines, including the art director and producers. The developer had approximately 400 employees at the time, but according to its LinkedIn page, this number has since dropped to less than 200.
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