Mass Effect director Casey Hudson announces studio closure, AAA sci-fi project canceled
Former Mass Effect director Casey Hudson has announced the closure of his studio Humanoid Origin after only three years due to funding issues.
The details:
The studio announced the closure in a post to LinkedIn, stating that an “unexpected shortfall of funding” left it “unable to sustain operations.” ““We’re heartbroken that we will not be able to bring our new science-fiction universe to completion,” the statement reads. “Our main concern at this time however is for our team, and we are committed to supporting them in their transition to new employment. In our time together, the team achieved incredible progress, and demonstrated that it’s possible to do amazing work while fostering a culture of fun and creativity. We thank them for their talent, courage, and friendship.”
Hudson announced the studio's formation in 2021 alongside a number of industry veterans, following his departure from BioWare the previous year. The director has previously worked on a number of beloved BioWare games, including Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic and the original Mass Effect trilogy.
Humanoid Origin planned to create a AAA multi-platform title based on a new IP with a "character-driven narrative." Aside from some concept art depicting astronauts and various futuristic structures, little else was revealed about the project.
The number of employees affected by the closure is currently unknown, but based on the studio's LinkedIn page, it appears to be around 70. The closure of Humanoid Origin adds to the gaming industry's increasing number of job losses in recent years, with an estimated 14,000 workers affected by widespread layoffs in 2024 alone.
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