Sega announces layoffs at Relic Entertainment

Sega has confirmed that 121 employees at the Company of Heroes will be let go following its restructuring.

The details:

• According to a new statement posted to Relic Entertainment's official Twitter account, 121 employees were laid off after the company made the "difficult decision to restructure" to "ensure that maximum focus can be placed on Relic's core franchises." The studio currently employs between 201 and 500 people, according to its LinkedIn page, and neither Relic nor Sega has provided specific numbers.
• The studio cites "external factors [that] are challenging our industry more than ever" as the cause of the restructuring, but assures that it is now in a "position of strength to continue delivering outstanding experiences to players all over the world." Sega also issued a statement (via GamesIndustry.biz), stating that it is in a "healthy financial position" and remains "fully committed to supporting and investing in Relic Entertainment and the franchises it is responsible for."
• Sega paid $26.6 million for Relic after its previous parent company, THQ, declared bankruptcy in 2013. The studio is responsible for the Company of Heroes franchise, which recently released its third mainline title, as well as the Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War and Age of Empires 4 series.

Other recent layoffs:

• Brace Yourself Games, the developer behind Crypt of the NecroDancer has confirmed that layoffs have impacted the studio. A former team member stated that senior management made an "incredibly difficult" decision that resulted in the dismissal of up to half of the team.
• FaZe Clan, an esports organization, has announced the layoff of 40% of its workforce to increase revenue. The company had up to 200 employees at the time of the announcement, according to its LinkedIn profile, with up to 80 affected by the decision.