Vancouver-based Blackbird Interactive has recently confirmed to GamesIndustry.biz that it has undergone a second round of layoffs within a span of six months.
A spokesperson for the studio expressed regret over the necessity of these layoffs, attributing them to economic pressures beyond their control. The decision to part ways with some employees is seen as a part of a larger realignment strategy prompted by the shelving of certain projects by partner companies.
Despite exploring various alternatives, the studio found these measures unavoidable. In light of this, they are extending support to affected team members by offering a comprehensive package of extended benefits and severance to facilitate their transition to new career opportunities.
News of the layoffs initially surfaced through reports by Game Developer, with former Blackbird staff members mentioning the layoffs on professional networking platform LinkedIn. This marks the studio’s second round of layoffs following a similar restructuring in August, during which 41 developers were let go due to the cancellation of undisclosed projects.
Presently, Blackbird Interactive remains committed to ongoing projects such as Earthless and Homeworld 3. However, the latter recently experienced a delay in its release schedule, pushing back its launch from March 8 to May 13.
