11 Bit Studios Cancels Project 8, Lays Off Employees

As a seasoned gamer with decades of experience under my belt, I can’t help but feel a pang of sadness upon hearing about the cancellation of Project 8 by 11 Bit Studios. The games industry is notorious for its highs and lows, and news like this serves as a stark reminder of the rollercoaster ride we all sign up for when we immerse ourselves in this captivating world.

Everyone, I wish you a joyful Christmas season and happy holidays! Sadly, it’s been reported that 11 Bit Studios has decided to cancel their game, Project 8, which may result in staff reductions at the company due to this decision.

11 Bit Studios announced earlier this week that a team of 37 individuals had been working on the project up until the point where they decided to discontinue it. The reason for cancelling the game was explained by 11 Bit Studios’ President, Przemyslaw Marszal, who provided multiple reasons for the decision.

Regarding Project 8, he mentioned that we encountered both successes and challenges. The COVID-19 pandemic made it tough to maintain our development team’s stability. However, progress was still made. We saw significant enhancements in some areas of the game, but there were persistent issues with crucial elements of the game and its development cycle. These problems persisted even after repeated adjustments. As a result, delays mounted, and with each passing milestone, the project’s expenses increased.

He then said that the “tipping point” happened after what Marszal called a “thorough evaluation” of the game’s latest milestone.

As I delve into a new project, I always take a close look at its current advancements. This means reviewing our team’s work internally and seeking outside opinions through independent polls, just as Marzal mentioned.

It appears that our research has unearthed a number of outstanding problems and hurdles that might necessitate extending the project’s deadline and increasing its budget to be tackled effectively. Additionally, revised sales predictions, mainly due to market changes, have cast considerable doubt on the project’s financial viability as a whole.

11 Bit Studios hasn’t disclosed the precise number of layoffs, but it’s been mentioned that over half of the team working on Project 8 may be given a chance to transition to other projects within the company. Those who are being terminated will receive severance pay, counseling services, and aid in job search assistance.

As a gamer, I’d put it like this: “When they axed Project 8, our gaming company had already poured $11.8 million into its creation. Marszal hinted that the final tally for cancelling this project wouldn’t be fully known until the release of our annual report in 2024.

2024 witnessed a significant decline in the games industry with roughly 15,000 confirmed job losses. However, when considering unverified data, the total could be close to 17,000 jobs lost.

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2024-12-19 22:17