Ascendant Studios, the creators of Immortals of Aveum, have been forced to lay off almost half of their developers and artists due to the underwhelming sales of the game. Studio chief Bret Robbins expressed his deep sadness in having to make these cuts.
Immortals of Aveum was released on August 22 and received mixed reviews, with an average score of 70 from critics and a 5.4 out of 10 from users on Metacritic. The feedback for the game ranged from lukewarm to highly critical, with Eurogamer stating that it was “almost so bad it’s good.”
The game aimed to offer a unique take on the FPS genre by focusing on Tolkienesque lore and magic weaponry instead of the typical machine guns and explosive narratives. Unfortunately, this approach failed to resonate with players.
The layoffs have affected various roles within the studio, including level, narrative, and sound designers, as well as artists and quality assurance staff. Some ex-staff members have taken to LinkedIn to seek new job opportunities or referrals.
Ubisoft has also announced the closure of its London studio, which will impact 54 employees. The studio, previously known as Future Games of London before being acquired by Ubisoft in 2013, was known for developing the popular Hungry Shark series of mobile games. Ubisoft plans to consolidate the management of the franchise at its Barcelona Mobile studio.
Layoffs have been a recurring issue in the gaming industry, with studios like BioWare, Gearbox, and Volition also experiencing workforce reductions. Volition, in particular, shut down after thirty years of operation, largely attributed to the poor sales of its Saint’s Row reboot.
| Studio | Number of Staff Affected |
|---|---|
| Ascendant Studios | 45% of staff |
| Ubisoft London | 54 staff |
| BioWare | Undisclosed |
| Gearbox | Undisclosed |
| Volition | Entire studio |
Source: DOTESPORTS
