Deck Nine Games, the esteemed developer behind titles such as Life is Strange: True Colors and The Expanse: A Telltale Series, has regrettably announced a significant reduction in its workforce, affecting approximately 20 percent of its employees. The studio attributes this decision to what it describes as “the game industry’s worsening market conditions.”
Recognized as the current custodian of Square Enix’s renowned narrative adventure series, Life is Strange, and Deck Nine has contributed significantly to the franchise with titles like Life is Strange: Before the Storm in 2017, Life is Strange: True Colors in 2021, and a remastered edition of the original Life is Strange by Don’t Nod in 2022. The studio collaborated on a prequel to the popular sci-fi television show The Expanse in partnership with the revived Telltale Games.
Deck Nine communicated its decision to reduce its workforce, amounting to around 30 employees based on recent headcount data, through a statement on social media.
The studio expressed empathy for the impacted individuals, acknowledging their talent and contributions, and urged other companies to consider hiring them: “These people are amazing, talented, and awesome developers. They have made a huge impact during their time at Deck Nine Games, and we did not take this decision lightly. Please hire these people if you can; they’re amazing.”
This recent downsizing marks the second instance of job cuts at Deck Nine within less than a year. Last May, the studio confirmed another round of layoffs affecting 30 employees but did not disclose the underlying reasons.
Deck Nine’s workforce reduction is part of a broader trend of layoffs within the games industry, reflecting a period of profound uncertainty for industry professionals. In 2023, widespread cuts resulted in over 9,000 job losses, and the trend has continued, with over 7,000 layoffs announced in the first two months of 2024 alone.
Recent announcements include Sony’s decision to lay off 900 employees globally, Supermassive’s reduction of 90 jobs, and Die Gute Fabrik’s suspension of production, leaving its team members seeking new opportunities.
