Replace (7/2/2024): Surgent Studios confirmed it laid off over a dozen of its workers. In its assertion, it acknowledged the trade’s “tough time,” and mentioned it’d prioritize serving to these affected by the reductions.
“I’m so pleased with what the workforce have acheieved over the course of those 4 years,” wrote Surgent founder Abubakar Salim. “So to be delivering this information immediately actually sucks. I do know we’re not alone right here, however that does not make it simpler.”
The studio added that its present plans contain additional assist for Tales of Kenzera: Zau and “trying to the longer term with our subsequent inventive tasks.”
Unique story: It appears to be like like Tales of Kenzera: Zau developer Surgent Studios is making layoffs.
Three former workers impacted by the cuts shared the information on social media. On Linkedin, degree designer Peter Brisbourne wrote “the chapter entitled ‘Pete Works At Surgent Studios’ is coming to an in depth on the finish of the month,” and indicated their departure was the results of layoffs.
Former Surgent technical artist Jordan Smee corroborated the information and mentioned they’re “becoming a member of all of the individuals affected by trade layoffs this yr.” Over on Bluesky, one other former Surgent worker mentioned they’ve “formally been laid off.”
The experiences come lower than three months after Tales of Kenzera hit cabinets. The EA-published metroidvania launched on April 23 for Change, PlayStation 5, Xbox Sequence X | S, and PC.
It acquired reward from critics and gamers alike, and at present boasts a ‘very constructive’ ranking on Steam from over 400 consumer opinions. It is unclear how effectively the sport bought.
Surgent was based by Abubakar Salim and is billed as a transmedia studio with “a pioneering philosophy to storytelling throughout movie, tv, video games, and rising platforms.”
The corporate has beforehand labored on movies together with Wild Goat Surf, Essex Women, and Measure. Tales of Kenzera was Surgent’s first recreation challenge.
Layoffs have develop into commonplace within the recreation trade over the previous yr. Main gamers together with Microsoft, Sony, EA, Embracer Group, Take-Two, and extra have collectively axed hundreds of jobs, shuttered studios, and canned tasks in a purported bid to ship sustainability and progress.
Recreation Developer has reached out to Surgent for remark.Â