Sandsoft Games Lays Off 65 Among Surge of Games Industry Job Losses
Sandsoft Games, a mobile-focused studio that has built popular titles like DC Heroes & Villains: Match 3 and Pocket Necromancer, has closed two of its studios in yet another round of games industry layoffs.
Sandsoft Marks the Latest Games Industry Layoffs
As reported by Mobilegamer.biz, the Saudi company is closing its studios in Barcelona and Riyadh, affecting approximately 40 and 25 employees, respectively. These layoffs are part of the studio’s shift away from development into publishing. It may relocate some employees to the publishing arm, but this has yet to be determined.
Speaking to Mobilegamer, Sandsoft CEO David Fernández said:
“Sandsoft is doubling down on publishing, an area of our business where we’ve already demonstrated significant growth and see significant opportunities for future success.”
Even a DC partnership can’t save studios from layoffs. Source: Google Play
The group is part of a larger entity owned by a Saudi family, according to the publication.
Games Industry Layoffs Appear Almost Daily
Games industry layoffs are, sadly, a dime-a-dozen these days, it seems. While the mobile industry appears somewhat safer on the surface due to its shorter development times and microtransaction-laden landscape, it appears that no one is truly immune to layoffs. Just look at the core gaming space.
July 23rd brought news of layoffs at Side Inc., a group that provides valuable quality assurance and other services to major studios. The studio laid off around ten people.
This is just a small number of Xbox-owned IP. What will come of them? Source: Xbox
Chinese conglomerate NetEase, publishers of the massively successful Marvel Rivals hero shooter, laid off a significant number of employees despite the game’s resounding praise. It seems that even a successful game won’t protect you from job loss. And with the rising cost of AAA game development, more layoffs are sure to follow.
Unfortunately, layoffs aren’t just part of the games industry, either. They’re a tech industry problem. Microsoft is a trillion-dollar company that’s still making cuts.
While there’s no single issue to point to, a brutal combination of pandemic-induced overhiring and the rise of artificial intelligence is likely to blame.
In fact, the rise of AI isn’t even speculation. Microsoft has recently made AI mandatory for its employees, claiming that those who do not comply will be left behind.
