Layoffs at Firaxis, the studio behind Civilization and XCOM, following weeks after BioShock downsizing, citing a need for "adaptability, collaboration, and creativity" - a phrase that seemingly signifies numerous job losses, reportedly in the dozens.
In the gaming industry, two significant developments have emerged recently, involving unionization efforts at the Diablo development team and layoffs at Firaxis Games, the studio behind popular strategy games such as Civilization, XCOM, and Marvel's Midnight Suns.
The Diablo development team, currently under AI-obsessed Microsoft, has voted to unionize due to the constant pressures of layoffs, passion tax, and crunch. Over 450 developers have cast their votes in favour of unionization, a move aimed at addressing these issues.
Meanwhile, Firaxis Games is facing a staff reduction as part of an effort to "restructure and optimize" the studio for "adaptability, collaboration, and creativity." The exact number of employees affected by the recent layoffs has not been disclosed, but it is suggested that several dozen may be impacted.
Firaxis, a significant player in strategy game development for decades, has created many beloved entries in the Civilization series. Civilization 7, released by Firaxis, received cautiously positive critical reviews but had a "slow start," according to Strauss Zelnick, CEO of Take-Two. Despite this, the projections for the lifetime value of Civilization 7 are consistent with the initial expectations for the title.
The XCOM revival developed by Firaxis offers some of the finest strategy gaming available, and Marvel's Midnight Suns, developed by Firaxis in 2022, gained a cult following. However, 'cult' success may not be sufficient for a Marvel game, as suggested by the layoffs at Firaxis.
Notably, the statement from 2K Games regarding the layoffs at Firaxis does not express any warmth towards the affected employees. The company confirmed the staff reduction but did not provide specific figures.
These layoffs at Firaxis come just weeks after layoffs at BioShock 4 developer Cloud Chamber, which reportedly cost 80 developers their jobs. The Diablo development team's unionization vote was motivated by their experiences with layoffs, passion tax, and crunch.
As the gaming industry continues to evolve, these developments serve as a reminder of the challenges faced by game developers and the growing movement towards unionization as a means to address these issues.
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