Former Dr Disrespect studio Midnight Society confirms significant layoffs
Midnight Society, the studio behind extraction shooter "Deadrop," has announced "significant" layoffs, just months after terminating its contract with co-founder Guy "Dr Disrespect" Beahm due to allegations of inappropriate behavior with a minor.
The details:
The developer confirmed in a statement to PC Gamer that it has made significant cuts to its workforce after several employees began sharing news of the layoffs late last week. "Unfortunately, Midnight Society has faced multiple unexpected challenges in recent months," the studio said. "To adapt to these changes and secure the future of Midnight Society, Deadrop, and our commitment to providing innovative gaming experiences, we've made the tough decision to streamline our operations, which includes a significant workforce reduction. We wouldn’t be here without the contributions of those who are affected and we thank them for all their incredible work, support them, and wish them the best.”
Despite the layoffs, the studio still plans to release its debut title, Deadrop, in 2025. The game is described as a "vertical extraction shooter set in a dark and violent future where the 80s never ended, and will be free to play. Midnight Society has directly incorporated NFTs into Deadrop, allowing owners to participate in tests throughout the development process as well as providing them with unique items.
Midnight Society was founded in 2021 by popular streamer Dr Disrespect, former Infinity Ward creative strategist Robert Bowling, who had previously worked on Call of Duty, and Halo and Gears designer Quinn DelHoyo. Earlier this year, the studio fired Dr Disrespect following accusations that he had inappropriate conversations with a minor during his time on Twitch. Beahm appeared to confirm this at first, before editing his original statement to remove any reference to a minor, deleting the post entirely, and proceeding to deny any wrongdoing following his recent return to streaming.
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