The gaming industry has seen significant changes recently, and as a result, many studios are facing tough decisions regarding their workforce. Ballistic Moon, the developer behind the anticipated Until Dawn remake, has now joined this unfortunate trend by announcing layoffs just a month before the game's release in October.
Initially, it was thought that only a couple of employees had lost their positions. However, reports indicate that at least 11 developers have now made their job losses known and are actively seeking new opportunities. One affected individual, Cassy Cornish, shared her experience on a professional networking platform, noting her redundancy as a Junior Game Designer at the studio.
Another ex-employee, Harry Williams, reflected on his time at Ballistic Moon, expressing regret over his redundancy as a Technical Designer after two exciting years working on the Until Dawn project. He fondly mentioned the people he collaborated with and hoped to reconnect with them in the future.
At this point, it remains uncertain whether additional employees have been impacted beyond the 11 confirmed. Ballistic Moon later acknowledged the layoffs in an official statement, attributing them to the ongoing "complex challenges" in the gaming sector and indicating a significant reduction in team size to ensure the studio's viability.
The statement expressed a deep sense of regret regarding the workforce reduction, highlighting the heartfelt thanks extended to every team member for their dedication and efforts at Ballistic Moon. It acknowledged the emotional difficulty of bidding farewell to such a skilled and passionate group of individuals and expressed sorrow over the repercussions of the restructuring on both the employees and their families.
Amid this transition, Ballistic Moon reaffirms its commitment to the forthcoming launch of the Until Dawn remake and aims to seek new opportunities and collaborations moving forward. The highly anticipated remake is scheduled for release on October 4 and promises an enriched experience of the original 2015 interactive horror game, enhanced through the capabilities of Unreal Engine 5, featuring significantly improved visuals and other notable upgrades.