People Can Fly Cancels Two Outriders Projects
People Can Fly, the Polish game developer known for titles such as Bulletstorm and Outriders, has announced the cancellation of two unannounced projects, citing disagreements with its publisher and a lack of funding as primary reasons. This decision comes on the heels of significant layoffs last year, where the studio let go of over 150 employees in two rounds of job cuts. The company is now preparing for further downsizing as it navigates these challenges.
Cancellation of Projects
In a LinkedIn statement released on Sunday, CEO Sebastian Wojciechowski revealed that the studio has halted development on two projects, referred to as project Gemini and project Bifrost. These projects had not been publicly detailed prior to their cancellation. Wojciechowski expressed the difficulty of this decision, stating, โToday we made a very difficult decision to suspend the development of project Gemini and project Bifrost.โ He explained that the suspension of project Gemini was due to the publisher’s failure to provide a draft for the next content rider related to the publishing agreement. This lack of communication raised concerns about the project’s future.
Project Bifrost faced a similar fate, as the studio’s analysis of cash flow indicated insufficient resources to continue its development. Wojciechowski acknowledged that these cancellations would necessitate a reorganization within the studio, which may lead to further layoffs, although he did not specify how many employees would be affected. He expressed regret over the situation, stating, โWe wish to express our deepest regret and sadness over how these events have unfolded.โ
Impact on Employees
The recent cancellations and potential layoffs are part of a troubling trend in the gaming industry. Last year, People Can Fly experienced significant workforce reductions, laying off over 150 employees in two separate rounds. In January 2024, the studio reportedly cut more than 30 jobs, and in December, Wojciechowski announced the suspension of another project, resulting in over 120 layoffs.
This wave of job cuts is not isolated to People Can Fly. The gaming industry has seen numerous cancellations and layoffs recently. For instance, Electronic Arts canceled its Black Panther game last week and laid off an unspecified number of employees across various teams, marking the third round of job cuts at the company this year. Similarly, Warner Bros. shut down three game studios, including Monolith Productions, and canceled its long-in-development Wonder Woman game.
Future Projects and Collaborations
Despite the setbacks, People Can Fly continues to work on several projects. The studio is currently developing Gears of War: E-Day for Xbox Game Studios and a new game based on a Sony intellectual property, codenamed project Delta. While the cancellations of project Gemini and project Bifrost are significant, the studio remains focused on its ongoing collaborations and future endeavors.
Wojciechowski did not disclose the identity of the unnamed publisher involved in the cancellations, but it is known that People Can Fly last collaborated with Square Enix on Outriders. The studio’s ability to navigate these challenges will be crucial as it seeks to stabilize its operations and continue delivering engaging gaming experiences in the future.
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