Lo, as we find ourselves but newly embarked upon the year 2025, the gaming realm doth bring forth dire tidings: Three studios hath announced their closure, leading to a multitude of job losses. Of these three, two are offspring of Enad Global 7, whose solemn declaration informed the populace thus: “This choice hath not been made lightly, and hath followed upon diverse endeavors to render the said subsidiary profitable.”
In the first instance, Toadman Interactive, renowned for creations such as Immortal: Unchained and Bloodsports TV, hath been the initial casualty. Albeit not the primary designer, this studio provided valuable assistance during the production of The Lord of the Rings Online and MechWarrior 5: Mercenaries. As per the decree of Enad Global 7, this closure shall impact all those not bound by contract, though existing agreements shall be honored. Adding to the desolation is the lamentable report that thirty-eight artisans from Piranha Games shall also face dismissal following the lackluster reception of MechWarrior 5: Clans.
Freejam, the artisan behind Robocraft 2 and CardLife, hath similarly declared the termination of its operations. In weeks to come, its extant games shall be brought to a close. The studio hath conveyed via Discord that the expenses of maintaining Robocraft 2 and other creations exceed their capacity to proceed with development or upkeep.
Counterplay Games, esteemed for their work on Godfall, a distinguished launch title for the PlayStation 5, hath been the final studio to succumb. Collaborating with Jackalyptic on a separate venture, an employee’s recent communiqué on LinkedIn, shared by PlayStation Lifestyle, revealed the melancholy news: “Regrettably, we were unable to sustain our partnership into the new year, resulting in the dissolution of CPG [Counterplay Games].”
These proclamations, albeit somber, have not taken the world unawares. The prior week bore witness to several pronouncements of employee layoffs, coupled with news from other workshops in the waning days of 2024. Alas, the recent times have proven harsh for the gaming industry, with a multitude of workers facing uncertain futures amidst the ceaseless ebb and flow of studio closures and layoffs.
