Raphael van Lierop’s Post

Two pieces of tough news today: - The layoffs at Rocksteady Studios Ltd following the disappointment of Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League. - The closure of Concord, published by Sony and developed by Firewalk Studios . The market is undeniably tough right now, and while these events are disheartening, I believe there are important lessons to be learned here. We need to reflect on the core of our industry—understanding our audience and delivering experiences that resonate with the people who play our games. There’s been a lot of talk about how indies are "saving" the industry, but let’s challenge that assumption. Indie funding is at its lowest point in years, so how are indies truly helping us navigate these challenges? Riding the waves of creativity and audience proximity at the expense of dignity and financial stability? I think it's time for an open discussion about what we can learn from them, especially in larger teams. Personally, I believe that companies need to give developers the space to do their homework, pitch new ideas, and create innovative models that connect with audiences. Decisions about what to develop and ship should not be left solely to those focused on numbers and profit margins, but rather to those who understand the heart of what makes games special to players. This is just my personal opinion, but it's a conversation worth having. #GameIndustry #IndieGames #GameDevelopment #GamingTrends #AudienceMatters #DevVoice #Layoffs #InnovationInGaming

To the people in the industry who believe that layoffs will create new studios: Please cut the BS and stop being delusional Those who are doing the layoffs are the ones that are ALREADY invested in games. How come this will attract new investors and create new studios/job opportunities. Games are not only made with goodwill and hardwork. Studions/People run on money to live and if you dont have enough to buy your security. You simply can't make good enough games. And no we can't talk about 2-3 lucky breaks when there are more than 10K people that has been laid off.

📌 Did you know that over 9000 professionals in the video game industry have been laid off in 2024 alone? 📌 We are not even halfway through 2024 and almost on the verge of crossing 2023's number, 10500. 📌 Various behemoths in the Industry have closed more studios in 2024 than they have released titles. 📌 Studio leads are expressing their grief over the matter, but the layoffs DO NOT seem to stop. 📌 Whether you are a gamer, a video game journalist, a professional in the industry, or an indie developer! 📌 Professionals in the industry are losing their livelihoods. 🔲 We need to come together and spread awareness; otherwise, the day when a job in the industry will be considered a suicide mission is inevitable! 🔲 Otherwise, No one passionate about games will want to work in the industry anymore! 👉 Look at my editorial on FandomWire Gaming and how the industry is slowly turning into a cold business. 📢https://lnkd.in/g7zk3QQs 🙏 Read the stats for yourself and share them. Speak up! This HAS to stop.

This is purely anecdotal and misdirecting from the core problems in the game industry. More importantly and non-anecdotally, #gamedev people are being pushed into dire finacial situations and at worse- homelessness. Narratives that minimize or belittle the damage are counterproductive. It also normalizes the cycle of bad management that led to the layoffs. This is the only truth that should be posted on this platform. All this talk of “sustainable solutions” is undermining the problems of the status quo by focusing on market-oriented discussion.

Thoughts on Layoffs, Studio Closures, and IP With recent discussions about companies being surprised that layoffs decrease productivity, studios closing despite creating incredible and acclaimed games, and the recurring theme of buying studios just for the sales of a particular game, I can't help but wonder: What happened to the human element? People learn on the job and have domain knowledge that you simply can't hire for. Writers and designers are legally separated from their works, programmers from their innovations, and community managers from their communities. Recent news feel short-sighted and lack empathy. I want to suggest some optimism: Indie studios. Many fellow studio founders and I are trying to create an alternative. With multiple laid-off studio leaders starting indie studios, there is hope for a better future for game developers and gamers alike. May better days come for our industry soon!

Some Game Developers Conference takeaways so far (day 2): 🎮 Publishers and VCs want to see games and pitches much further along than in past years: full playables and a thriving community already behind the game. 🎮 When the economy gets tight, investors are much more careful with their cash in any vertical. 🎮 Layoffs may be up at the big companies, but the content still needs to get made. 🎮 So artists may find different opportunities at the studios that are doing work-for-hire and co-development. What trends have you seen?

Given the continuing studio closures and layoffs in the industry, I feel we'll have a very dry season in a couple of years with fewer releases than usual. Then, publishers will be hunting for deals with surviving independent developers to find games to launch and generate revenue for investors. We have been there before after the 2018 layoffs. Optimizing the L part of the P&L is important, but the P part drives the business. Spending 20% less doesn't help if your revenue is half of what it used to be.

It just makes me wonder, what exactly is going on in our industry? Been thinking about it for quite a while, and every day I wake up to the news of another studio shutting its door...and it's just saddening. I think we all hoped that 2024 would bring some kind of stability, or at least a slowdown in the layoffs but instead what we see is even more studios struggle to keep their doors open. It’s disheartening, not just for the people affected but for the industry as a whole. The passion and talent that drive game development are facing a harsh reality that seems to prioritize short-term gains over long-term creative sustainability. ...And I'm worried. I'm worried about the impact this will have on the diversity of games being made. Merge Games was a publisher of some truly unique indies, just like Humble Games. Having them closed, is a loss not just for the developers who relied on their support, but also for players who crave those innovative, creative experiences that only indie studios can deliver. My thoughts are with everyone affected at Merge Games and also anyone else who lost their job for these "Consolidation Strategies and Restructurings." The consolidation strategies may make sense from a business perspective, but at what cost? Still makes me wonder. https://lnkd.in/e8x86hfj

The recent layoffs in the gaming industry make for challenging times indeed. However, there’s a historic benefit that can shift perspective on this for the more enterprising developers. Historically, during industry challenges, it's the more flexible independent studios that stand the chance to rise like Phoenixes out of troubled times with newer and more efficient models and more creative solutions. Out of this, we can expect a surge of small, highly skilled, and experienced independent and agile studios emerging with a fresh wave of creativity and more efficient solutions for gaming’s challenging space. In this, I'd keep my eyes on the smaller and more innovative studios that have the capability to pivot quicker and more efficiently. Always curious about other thoughts.

Very sad to hear about the seemingly endless waves of layoffs affecting nearly every corner of the games industry. The idea of only being able to support ourselves doing what we love until the hammer drops, at what could potentially be any moment, is a terrifying one. Even the most successful and sought-after studios haven't escaped this culling, and it's a notion I've seen firsthand begin to deter others from pursuing their own game development dreams. I'm very lucky to feel comfortable and valued in my current position, but I feel for everyone currently having the rug pulled out from under them. It's a difficult time for creators and artists for many reasons, and it's been shocking seeing many people I've followed for guidance in navigating this industry falling victim to these downsizings themselves. I sincerely hope that, despite the current doom and gloom, all of these fantastic creators will be able to find the strength to keep going. As contradictory as it may seem, gaming has continued to become a more exciting medium every year, not because of advancing hardware or inflating budgets, but because of the creativity and passion of those working on the games we love behind the scenes. If you're someone who's recently been let go, I know you'll be able to find (or create) a new home where you can continue to pursue your craft and make something we can all look forward to playing. And if you're someone who hasn't entered into the industry yet, don't give up! Things may look dire, but your dreams are worth pursuing, even though the path to achieve them may throw some obstacles your way. Games are an incredible and unique form of expression, and I'm incredibly grateful for the work these people have done to lift up and advance the medium. I'm deeply sorry your efforts haven't rewarded you the job security you deserve, but I believe in my heart you will all find a place where you're valued and will continue to do great things in the future!