Funcom Lays Off Staff, Shuts Down Studio Amid Dune: Awakening Development
▼ Summary
– Funcom is laying off staff and shutting down The Outsiders studio, the developer of Metal: Hellsinger, as part of major restructuring.
– Dune: Awakening had a successful launch, selling a million copies and becoming Funcom’s fastest-selling game in its 32-year history.
– The restructuring is due to the transition to long-term live operations and preparation for a major console release of Dune: Awakening next year.
– The Outsiders studio will close, affecting all staff, though the team aims to continue in some new form according to its founder.
– Funcom has not yet determined the exact impact of the layoffs and did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Funcom, the Tencent-owned studio responsible for the survival MMO Dune: Awakening, has initiated a significant corporate restructuring that involves employee layoffs and the closure of The Outsiders, the development team behind Metal: Hellsinger. This move comes despite the recent success of Dune: Awakening, which reportedly sold one million copies and became the company’s fastest-selling title shortly after its June launch.
In an official statement, Funcom described Dune: Awakening as its most significant release in a 32-year history of game development, highlighting the title’s “incredible potential.” The company explained that the restructuring is necessary to manage the game’s evolution from its initial development phase into long-term live operations. This shift, combined with preparations for a major console launch planned for next year, requires a reallocation of resources across its various projects and studios.
Regrettably, this strategic pivot means parting ways with valued team members. Funcom acknowledged the difficulty of the situation, stating it cannot yet determine the full extent of the impact on its workforce. The changes have profoundly affected The Outsiders studio. David Goldfarb, the studio’s founder and creative director, confirmed on Bluesky that the layoffs impact the entire team, leading to the closure of the ten-year-old studio. Goldfarb expressed the team’s collective pain, noting that “change is always tough,” but shared their intention to continue their work in some new form in the future. Funcom has not provided additional comment on the matter.
(Source: The Verge)
