One of the hardest posts we hate to write is anything that has to do with layoffs. Sadly, there have been so many of them this month. A few days ago, Black Forest Games, the developer behind Destroy All Humans! announced that it had let go nearly 50% of its employees. The exact number was around 50, according to Kotaku.
From the information GameBaba Universe gathered, the layoffs were announced on Wednesday, January 24, 2024. The staff and management at Black Forest Games were told that more information would be provided next week.
Kotaku was informed by an unnamed source that the layoff did not affect the creative directors and most “if not all” of the managers. The disproportionate impact of layoffs is often a burning topic on social media. Many believe lower-ranking employees are scapegoats for bad decisions made by executives.
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Black Forest Games was founded in 2012 and is located in Offenburg, Germany. According to the studio’s official website, the company had over 100 employees before the layoff announcement, many with over 20 years of experience in the gaming industry.
Black Forest Games has developed popular games like Destroy All Humans!, Fade To Silence, and platformers like Rogue Stormers and Giana Sisters: Twisted Dreams. The latest game from the studio titled Destroy All Humans! 2 – Reprobed was a remake of the 2006 classic titled Destroy All Humans! 2 – Make War Not Love!
Since 2017, Black Forest Games has been part of Embracer Group’s THQ Nordic. Black Forest Games said the partnership has allowed them “to combine the resources and support of one of Europe’s biggest publishers, with the independence and creative freedom of an independent studio”.
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The total layoffs in the video game industry last year were estimated to be around 10,000. However, we have already seen more than half of that figure in January alone. At this rate, 2024 will likely have a higher layoff count than the previous year.
Former Black Forest Games employees speak out
GameBaba Universe was able to spot a few former employees of Black Forest Games who have publicly spoken about the recent layoffs in the studio. One of them was Anton Guzeev who worked as a lead character artist.
“I am grateful for all the connections I made here over the years, as unfortunately, this is my turn to let you all know that due to upcoming layoffs at BFG, I am now in search of a new career opportunity,” Guzeev wrote on LinkedIn. “I am genuinely passionate about character art and game development, I love games and I am eager to bring my skills and creativity to a new opportunity.”
Matthieu Reynaud, a rigging artist who spent two years with the company, was also affected by the recent layoff at Black Forest Games. He said the layoff came with a sense of surprise.
“I am now actively seeking new challenges and opportunities in the field of 3D animation as a Rigging Artist,” Reynaud wrote on LinkedIn. “As a motivated Junior with a strong passion for creating animated characters and props, I am determined to continue my journey as part of a dynamic and innovative team.”
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GameBaba Universe has included a link to the profiles of the impacted members mentioned in this post so that it will be easy for anyone who might have an opening to easily reach out to them. Our heart goes out to everyone impacted by the layoff at Black Forest Games.
The studio is currently working on Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Last Ronin. The game’s teaser trailer was showcased at Gamescom Opening Night Live. It is the official video game adaptation of the best-selling comic book TMNT: The Last Ronin.
