Payload Studios Lays Off More Staff As Cutbacks Continue

As a long-time follower and supporter of Payload Studios, it is truly disheartening to witness yet another round of layoffs at this talented team. Having played TerraTech for countless hours, I can attest to the dedication and passion that goes into each project they undertake. The news of their financial struggles and the subsequent let go of employees is a stark reminder of the challenges faced by developers in the gaming industry.

Payload Studios is unfortunately having to reduce its workforce, only a few months following the dismissal of 25% of its team. This move comes after the company found itself in a challenging situation, as confirmed by them to GamesIndustry.biz (GIBiz).

Russell Clarke, our CEO and co-founder, confirmed to GIBiz that we unfortunately had to initiate another round of layoffs last week. This sudden turn of events was due to a project we were heavily dependent on failing to materialize, leaving us in a challenging predicament.

We haven’t finalized specifics such as the notice duration, severance packages, and the exact number of employees potentially impacted. However, due to the need for advanced notice, we informed our team members last week.

Although Clarke didn’t explicitly state the exact number, GIBiz has reportedly announced that eight individuals were terminated in this instance. Clarke expressed his intention to provide clarification to the staff by the end of this week. It’s also worth noting that those who were let go apparently did not receive any form of severance pay.

Additionally, sources have informed GIBiz that one of Payload’s founding members was among those let go, although the company has declined to specify which one.

Clarke mentioned that as for Payload Studios’ future plans, they’re not fully determined yet, but whoever forms the core team should keep things streamlined and efficient.

2024 saw a staggering impact on the gaming industry, with approximately 13,500 jobs disappearing across over 160 companies. Yet, I believe the actual number could be even higher, considering that some companies kept their layoff numbers under wraps.

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