Frontier Studios, the developer behind popular games like Planet Zoo and F1 Manager, has announced layoffs as part of its efforts to refocus on its core strengths. The studio’s disappointing financial results have prompted a review of its operations, with a goal of reducing operating costs by up to 20 percent. As a result, recruitment will be frozen, spending will be cut, and an undisclosed number of employees will be made redundant. The organizational review is expected to be completed by early 2024.
The decision comes after the underwhelming performance of F1 Manager 2023, which had lower-than-expected sales upon release. However, upcoming titles like Warhammer Age of Sigmar: Realms of Ruin will not be affected by the layoffs. Despite the setback, Frontier’s previous release, Planet Zoo, achieved great success in 2019 as a spiritual successor to the Zoo Tycoon series. The game has received continuous support through free updates and paid DLC, including 15 DLC updates that introduced new animals, habitats, and fan-requested features.
Frontier Studios has been publishing its own games since 2013, with a catalog that includes Jurassic World: Evolution and its sequel, Elite Dangerous, and Planet Coaster. Prior to self-publishing, the studio developed games for various publishers such as Microsoft, Sony, and Atari, including titles like Zoo Tycoon, Kinectimals, Rollercoaster Tycoon 3, Screamride, and Tales From Deep Space.
Overall, Frontier Studios’ decision to refocus on its core strengths and reduce operating costs through layoffs reflects the challenges faced by the studio in the competitive gaming industry. Despite the setbacks, the studio remains committed to delivering quality games and supporting its existing titles.
Source: DOTESPORTS
