Humble Games Has Effectively Been Shut Down, Say Former Employees

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Humble Games Has Effectively Been Shut Down, Say Former Employees

Highlights

  • Laid-off Humble Games staff insist company has been shut down despite its parent company’s claims of restructuring.
  • The entire 36-person team at Humble Games was laid off, and work is to be handled by third-party The Powell Group moving forward.
  • Popular indie titles like Stray Gods have been published by Humble Games since 2017.

As a long-time fan and supporter of Humble Games, I’m deeply saddened by the recent turn of events that have left the company seemingly shut down despite parent company Ziff Davis’ claims to the contrary. Having followed Humble Games since their inception in 2017, I’ve grown fond of their unique approach to indie publishing and the diverse range of titles they’ve brought to life.

According to Ziff Davis, the parent company’s assertion, Humble Games team members argue that the indie publishing division of Humble Bundle has been closed down. Humble Games was established in 2017 to provide publishing services for independent game developers and became an official entity under Humble Bundle in 2020. Most gamers are familiar with Humble Bundle for its discounted games that support charitable causes.

Starting from its inception, Humble Games has played a significant role in introducing numerous indie game hits to players. For instance, they introduced the early access version of “Slay the Spire,” this year’s charming puzzle game “Unpacking,” “Chinatown Detective Agency,” and the acclaimed “Signalis.” However, an unexpected turn of events came on July 23 when social media was flooded with news that Humble Games’ entire team of 36 members had been let go. Ziff Davis, the company behind Humble Games, released a statement explaining that these layoffs were part of a restructuring process and did not indicate the closure of the studio.

Former employees of Humble Games, now out of work after a round of layoffs, have made it clear to Aftermath that the company has indeed ceased operations. One ex-employee expressed, “Nobody from HG remains after the layoffs, and they won’t be involved in any game releases in the future.” In their stead, The Powell Group, an external firm, is being brought on board to complete their duties. Similar sentiments have been shared on social media by other former staff members. Chris Radley, who left Humble Games in 2022, voiced his concerns about the layoffs on LinkedIn, “Disregard any sugarcoated statements from the parent company… they’re just trying to quell backlash.”

Humble Games Parent Company Says It’s Just Restructuring

At a recent gathering for Humble Games employees, presided over by Steve Horowitz, President of Tech and Shopping at Ziff Davis, it was disclosed that the need for restructuring arose from escalating expenses and project hold-ups. Efforts to transfer ownership of the company have proven fruitless. In order to keep costs in check, Ziff Davis intends to engage an external party to oversee previous and upcoming Humble Games publications and offer developer assistance.

Despite the fact that The Powell Group now manages all projects formerly handled by the entire Humble Games staff, who have been let go, some former employees dispute the notion that this is merely a restructuring. They view the company’s public statements as an effort to save face and potentially mislead, while others express doubts about The Powell Group’s competence in video game publishing and the unrealistic expectations and deadlines often associated with it.

Ziff Davis is an experienced publisher known for creating popular print magazines such as “Popular Aviation,” “Amazing Stories,” and “Popular Electronics.” Later, the company expanded into television for a while, and more recently, has been acquiring hobbyist websites. Currently, their portfolio includes various properties, notably several video game websites like Rock Paper Shotgun, IGN, Eurogamer, and HowLongToBeat.com.

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2024-07-24 15:04