Playtonic, the developer behind the Yooka-Laylee series, has announced layoffs affecting over a dozen staff members. The studio cited recent changes in the industry as the reason for the difficult decision. In a statement shared on social media, Playtonic revealed that they have “felt the knock-on effects” of the evolving landscape and had to make “the incredibly heartbreaking decision to say goodbye to some truly brilliant members of the Playtonic team.”
The layoffs have impacted various departments, including production, art, game design, narrative design, and UI/UX design.
It remains unclear if the studio’s upcoming remaster, Yooka-Replaylee, set for release later this year, has been affected by these changes. Playtonic’s statement emphasized that the layoffs are not a reflection of the talent or dedication of the affected employees. “The people leaving have poured so much heart, creativity, and care into everything we do.
Layoffs amid industry changes
They’ve helped shape our studio, our games, and our culture, and we’re incredibly proud of what we’ve built together,” the statement read. The studio acknowledged that the games industry has been changing in recent years, forcing many studios to make painful decisions to continue existing.
Playtonic described the current situation as “a period of profound change in how games are created and financed,” adding that “the landscape is shifting, and with it, so must we.”
Kevin Bayliss, an artist at Playtonic who designed Donkey Kong and Diddy Kong for Rare’s SNES games, commented on the situation, expressing his sadness at losing great talent and friends due to the redundancies. Yooka-Laylee, released in 2017, was seen as a spiritual successor to Banjo-Kazooie, inspired by 90s 3D platformers. The game was followed by a side-scrolling sequel two years later.
The layoffs mark a significant moment for Playtonic as they navigate the evolving landscape of game development and face the challenges of an industry in flux.
Kirstie a technology news reporter at DevX. She reports on emerging technologies and startups waiting to skyrocket.
