Yooka-Laylee Developer Faces Layoffs Sparks Concerns Over Remaster Release

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Summary

  • Playtonic has reportedly laid off staff members, including members from production, art, and VFX departments.
  • The layoffs raise concerns about the completion of the 2025-slated Yooka-Replayee remaster.
  • Despite the layoffs, there has been no word on if Yooka-Replayee’s release plans have been impacted.

Playtonic Studios, based in the UK and known for creating the Yooka-Laylee platformer series, appears to have let go of several team members from different departments, as indicated by posts from current and previous employees on social media. At present, Playtonic is working on a remastered version of the initial Yooka-Laylee game, scheduled for release in 2025. Additionally, the company operates a publishing division called Playtonic Friends, which has supported independent developers since 2021.

Playtonic Games, established in 2014 by veterans from Rare Studios, gained recognition for their work on the 3D platformer game, Yooka-Laylee, which was modeled after the Banjo-Kazooie series. This project garnered funding through a successful Kickstarter campaign and hit stores in 2017, receiving a mix of positive and negative reviews. At present, they are developing Yooka-Replaylee, an enhanced version of their initial Yooka-Laylee release, and publishing titles like Demon Tides and Cattle Country.

Information about job cuts at Playtonic was shared on LinkedIn by current and ex-employees, as noticed by Destructoid. Based on posts, employees from different departments such as production, art, VFX, and others have been affected. However, the studio has not publicly verified the extent of these layoffs. Updates on LinkedIn suggest that several team members have been let go. This development understandably raises questions about Playtonic’s ongoing and future projects, including the upcoming remaster Yooka-Replayee, which is currently scheduled for 2025. At present, a release date for the remaster has not been announced, and it remains unclear whether the layoffs will impact the company’s plans regarding this project.

Layoffs Add Uncertainty to Playtonic’s Development and Publishing Plans

Initially, the game Yooka-Laylee garnered popularity due to engaging characters and thrilling gameplay, embodying the essence of classic 3D platformers. The team behind it has been diligently striving to replicate this success, and based on early glimpses of the remaster, they seem to be making significant progress towards their goal by maintaining the same captivating characters, introducing some strategic gameplay enhancements, and enhancing the graphics.

In the near future, we expect the remaster to be released. Provided the layoffs don’t disrupt it too significantly, it won’t mark a completely fresh chapter in the story of our cherished chameleon and bat. At this point, we’re optimistic that the launch of Yooka-Replayee can steer Playtonic towards creating more original games, helping them regain their footing.

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2025-05-22 18:57