Key Takeaways
- Evening Star Studio laid off six employees due to industry volatility.
- Layoffs in gaming industry affect big companies and indie studios alike.
As a seasoned gamer who has witnessed the rise and fall of many gaming studios over the years, I must admit that the news of Evening Star Studio laying off six employees is disheartening. The team behind Penny’s Big Breakaway, a game that brought joy to countless gamers, including myself, is now facing hard times due to the industry’s volatility.
As an enthusiastic admirer, I’d like to share some news that’s come from the creative minds behind “Penny’s Big Breakaway,” the talented team at Evening Star Studio. Unfortunately, they’ve recently had to make a tough decision due to the unpredictable nature of the gaming industry, and six members of their team have been let go.
Initially, Evening Star was contemplating involvement in a possible sequel to Sonic Mania. However, due to their busy schedule and desire to create an independent project, plans for Sonic Mania 2 didn’t materialize. Instead, Sega and Sonic Team teamed up with Arzest to develop Sonic Superstars, while Evening Star concentrated on Penny’s Big Breakaway. Although Penny’s Big Breakaway was successful, the studio has been impacted by the unpredictable nature of the gaming industry, resulting in the recent layoff of six employees from the indie developer.
Evening Star Chief Technology Officer Hunter Bridges announced the layoffs on Twitter, followed by a post on LinkedIn by CEO Dave Padilla. Both executives lamented that they wished they didn’t need to announce layoffs to the studio, with Bridges saying that it wasn’t a choice they wanted to make. Padilla noted that due to the developer failing to secure a project in order to keep the team together, Evening Star Studio has been affected by the same volatile conditions that have affected its peers across the gaming industry as a whole, having to let go six employees.
Penny’s Big Breakaway Developer Lays Off Six Employees
Bridge and Padilla acknowledged that this was a challenging choice for them, as they valued the skills and contributions of several team members they had to part ways with during the production of Penny’s Big Breakaway. These individuals included 3D artists, gameplay engineers, designers, and a producer. They emphasized that the individuals they let go were exceptionally talented professionals, and are currently making concerted efforts to assist them in securing employment elsewhere.
2024 saw a significant increase in layoffs across the video game industry, with giants like Microsoft, Sega, and EA trimming their workforce. Just this September, Microsoft let go of 650 employees from its gaming division, including corporate and support roles within Activision Blizzard. Since acquiring Activision Blizzard last year, Microsoft has been downsizing various studios, impacting teams such as Toys for Bob (responsible for Crash Bandicoot) and Sledgehammer Games (supporting Call of Duty). Even smaller indie studios like Evening Star have felt the brunt of the industry’s unstable climate. As of September, over 13,000 game developers and publishers have been affected by layoffs in our field.
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2024-09-14 20:36