Yooka-Laylee developer Playtonic has officially confirmed that it’s been hit by layoffs, describing those who have been let go as “some truly brilliant members of [the developer’s] team”.
In a post on X, Playtonic says that although it explored “every possible avenue” to avoid layoffs, it was forced to make the same “painful decisions” that many other studios across the industry are currently facing.
The developer says the layoffs are not a “reflection of anyone’s talent or dedication”, but that “the landscape is shifting”, forcing Playtonic to adapt to changing times. The company doesn’t reveal how many staffers have lost their jobs.
Playtonic says that the layoffs don’t just represent a “difficult moment” for the studio, but rather a “period of profound change in how games are created and financed”, although it doesn’t go into any further detail.
What is for certain is that Playtonic is far from the only studio to be hit by layoffs in recent months. Big studios like Assassin’s Creed publisher Ubisoft, EA subsidiary and Apex Legends developer Respawn, and British outfit Sumo Group have all been caught up in the industry sea change Playtonic identified.
Since forming in 2014, Playtonic has released just two games, namely 3D platformer Yooka-Laylee and its 2.5D spinoff Yooka-Laylee and the Impossible Lair. It’s currently working on a remaster-slash-remake of its first game with the rather amusing title Yooka-Replaylee.
In addition to its development division, the studio also has a publishing arm by the name of Playtonic Friends, under which games like BPM: Bullets Per Minute, Lil Gator Game, and cozy farming sim Cattle Country have been released.
Whether or not Yooka-Replaylee turns out to be what’s needed to turn Playtonic’s fortunes around remains to be seen. The game is currently set for release sometime this year, so stay tuned for more.