This year has already gotten off to a rocky start for developers who are still experiencing the wave of layoffs that plagued 2023.
This time around, it’s the Polish team People Can Fly that has suffered layoffs. In an email provided to Kotaku, it was announced that over 30 people will be affected. This information was confirmed with the publication. As other companies have promised during their layoffs, PCF claims that it will aid its ex-employees during the transition.
In the email, developer director Adam Alker states that the layoffs are due to a shrinking budget and smaller scope on an unannounced game codenamed Project Gemini which is set to be published by Square Enix. 20 people will be taken off the project but will still get to work for the company.
The layoffs come after the PCF-produced Bulletstorm VR which has attracted notoriety due to its catastrophic launch. People Can Fly has released a joint statement with developers promising to fix the issues players have complained about.
This is far from the first case of layoffs in 2024. Riot has been the most notable thus far, with over 500 employees affected.