Predator: Hunting Grounds developer IllFonic announces layoffs
IllFonic, the studio behind Predator: Hunting Grounds and Friday the 13th: The Game, has announced layoffs affecting employees at several locations, citing the current state of the industry.
The details:
In a statement posted to X, CEO and co-founder Charles Brungardt confirmed that the company has laid off an undisclosed number of employees. “Today we had to accept the harsh reality that the state of the industry has impacted us here at IllFonic,” reads the statement. “It is with the heaviest of hearts that cuts to our teams had to be made today as we re-aligned to a refined strategy. There is a lot of talent in this group and if you or your team is hiring, please reach out so people can be connected to open roles.”
While the studio has not disclosed how many employees have been affected, some, including former senior social media and community manager Mike Robles, have begun to share the news on social media. “Myself and others were impacted by this today,” Robles wrote on X. “If you need a Sr. Social Media / Community Manager let me know.”
IllFonic, which currently has studios in Golden, Colorado and Tacoma, Washington, is best known for its licensed asymmetric multiplayer titles Predator: Hunting Grounds and Friday the 13th: The Game, which feature a group of players attempting to complete tasks while avoiding being killed by the Predator and Jason, respectively. Aside from its own releases, it has contributed to the development of AAA games like Star Citizen, Evolve, and Crysis 3.
Farhan Noor's game industry layoffs tracker states that an estimated 14,000 layoffs have taken place in 2024 alone, up from ~10,500 in 2023. Many of the job cuts have occurred at large companies, including Microsoft, Ubisoft, EA, Unity, and PlayStation, which account for more than a third of the total.
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