5th January, 2012

Games industry losses:

Multiverse Network announced on its official page that it has ceased operations due to a lack of funding. Multiverse was founded in July of 2004 to offer an inexpensive platform on which to release persistent world games. Multiverse also released social games and flash games including several based on advertising properties. Multiverse may have failed to "achieve a profitable business model," but received a lot of attention from the press recently thanks to a promise to release persistent-world online games based on the Firefly and Buffy the Vampire Slayer properties. Several interested developers intend to continue working on the Multiverse platform, now available through SourceForge.

- Gamesbrief.com -

12th December, 2011

Games industry losses:

According to multiple reports, THQ has made 30 staff redundant in its Agoura Hills, California office thanks to the poor performance of the uDraw GameTablet on high-definition consoles. The unit's business leader, Martin Good is also departing THQ.

- Gamesbrief.com -

12th December, 2011

Games industry losses:

According to VentureBeat, IGA Worldwide has made one quarter of its workforce redundant. This means around six members of the New York, New York-based company have lost jobs. IGA Worldwide did not comment on a business many perceive to be struggling as platform owners take control of advertising opportunities, but did say: "This was due to a strategic realignment of the business and a focus on other priorities."

- Gamesbrief.com -

9th December, 2011

Games industry losses:

According to this Ukranian news report and this blog post, GSC Game World (the developer of the S.T.A.L.K.E.R. games) has shut down. This is reportedly due to the unfavorable economics of developing a PC-exclusive shooter franchise primarily for European countries.

- Gamesbrief.com -

6th December, 2011

Games industry losses:

According to Develop, localisation company Partnertrans will be shutting down its operations in the UK. Headquartered in Germany, Partnertrans plans to move its business to North America to be closer to its United States and Canadian customers. Many Partnertrans jobs in the UK have been lost through attrition, but further losses are expected when the office in Brighton is shut down.

- Gamesbrief.com -

3rd December, 2011

Games industry losses:

Following the cancellation of a publishing deal with Konami that had Day 1 Studios developing a new game based on Konami's Silent Scope franchise, Day 1 Studios has reportedly dismissed 95% of the Silent Scope team, leaving a small team to work on another, unannounced title.

- Gamesbrief.com -

7th November, 2011

Games industry losses:

Lego has decided to close Lego Universe as the game was unable to bring in sufficient users. As a result, Lego will be making 115 staff redundant (those who work on the game and related marketing). The positions are located in both the United States and Denmark.

- Gamesbrief.com -

4th November, 2011

Games industry losses:

Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment has made staff from its Seattle studios redundant. While the redundancies were confirmed by WBIE, the numbers were estimated to be around 60 according to a tweet by George Broussard.

- Gamesbrief.com -

3rd November, 2011

Games industry losses:

Social and casual game developer Gameforge has made nearly 100 of its approximately 450 employees redundant and halted production on its free-to-play online game Star Trek: Infinite Space. Christoph Gerlinger, founder and CEO of Frogster (acquired by Gameforge) has also departed the company.

- Gamesbrief.com -

2nd November, 2011

Games industry losses:

Social game developer RockYou is reducing its total headcount by around 100 staff. Of the reductions, around 40 come from selling development studio Playdemic back to its founders, while the remainder will be made redundant. The company plans to rein in the creative side of the business and ensure that business personnel are the ones making decisions concerning the direction of the company.

- Gamesbrief.com -