If I'm going to cover the video game business, I really need to stay on top of the ongoing layoffs in the industry. In 2022 (8,500 jobs) and 2023 (10,500 jobs), the video game companies laid off an estimated 19,000 workers. The current year promises more of the same. According to VideoGameLayoffs.com, a site that tracks layoffs, and estimated 5,700 people have lost their jobs so far in 2024, and January is not yet over.
The press has covered four big rounds of layoffs at Microsoft (1,900), Unity (1,800), Riot Games (530), and Twitch (500). Something I didn't realize until researching this post is Embracer Group has announced layoffs at four studios: Slipgate Iron Works (Jan 3), Lost Boys Interactive (Jan 12), Pirahna Bytes (Jan 16), and Black Forest Games (Jan 25). So far in its restructuring, Embracer Group has laid off 500 employees since July. According to VideoGameLayoffs.com, the figure in January 2024 is at least 165.
The biggest round of layoffs not yet mentioned were announced at Playtika. The 350-400 employees laid off will mostly come from the company's Belarusian studio, which will close in February.
So far, 2024 is a pretty lousy year for those working in the video game industry. Given the state of the world economy, I don't expect the situation to get better anytime soon.
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