NaturalMotion, the studio behind Star Wars Hunters and CSR Racing is expected to lay off an undisclosed number of employees across its studios in the US and the UK. Sources familiar with the matter revealed to GamesIndustry.biz that some employees have already been let go and that the company has shut down its Birmingham studio.
Staff working at NaturalMotion Brighton Studio
When GamesIndusty.biz reached out to its parent company, Zynga, for comment, they were told the company is reviewing its UK and US teams, which “may impact a number of roles”.
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“An important part of connecting the world through games is being committed to operating efficiently,” said the company’s spokesperson in a statement shared with GamesIndustry.biz. “As part of this effort, we have made the difficult decision to review our UK and US operations, which may impact a number of roles in the US and UK. We believe these changes will help to ensure that the studio is sustainable for the long term and aligned with our future development needs.”
“Importantly, we do not anticipate any disruptions in service to our players during this transition, and we will work closely with affected employees to ensure they are treated with the utmost consideration, respect, and care.”
NaturalMotion was founded in 2001 with studios in London, Brighton, and Birmingham. Since 2018 to 2024, the company has been listed on the Best Places to Work in the UK video game industry at the GamesIndustry.biz Awards.
GameBaba Universe spotted 2 profiles of people who previously worked at NaturalMotion who have now updated their profile with the green #OpenToWork banner on LinkedIn. Both profiles also made posts days ago announcing they were looking for new roles.
“Hey everyone! I’m actively seeking a new role and would appreciate your support,” wrote UI Artist Kyle Watson. “If you hear of any opportunities or want to learn more, please send me a message or comment below. I’d love to connect.”
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UX designer Carmine D’Avino also posted about looking for a new role saying, “I am looking for a new role and would appreciate your support. Thank you in advance for any connections, advice, or opportunities you can offer.”
GamesIndustry.biz pressed further to know if the claims that some people have already been let go was true but the Zynga spokesperson said they “don’t have any more information to share outside of the statement at this time”.
