Team17, the publisher behind popular games like Worms and Overcooked, is reportedly planning to lay off several employees, including their CEO Michael Pattison. The majority of the layoffs are expected to affect the Quality Assurance (QA) department, which often sees the most job insecurity in the gaming industry. Junior QA analyst roles are likely to be among those affected. This restructuring plan comes after a previous round of layoffs earlier this year. The decision was communicated to employees in an emergency meeting on October 2nd, with the layoffs set to take effect in November.
Layoffs have unfortunately become increasingly common in the gaming industry this year. Epic Games recently announced layoffs, primarily impacting Fortnite’s competitive scene and Fall Guys’ developer Mediatonic. Blizzard also reportedly planned layoffs within Hearthstone’s development team. Other major companies, such as Microsoft and Bethesda, have also enacted layoffs in recent months. The Embracer group has been cutting staff after an aggressive period of acquiring other companies.
The gaming industry’s reliance on QA testers and the precarious nature of their employment often make them vulnerable to layoffs. However, these layoffs at Team17 will not only affect the QA department but also other areas of the company, including the CEO position. Michael Pattison, who joined the company in 2021 with experience from PlayStation, will be among those affected.
Despite the company’s assurance that there are no plans for further layoffs in the near future, the news is likely to create uncertainty among the remaining employees. Layoffs have become a recurring theme in the industry, causing concern and instability for many workers.
Source: DOTESPORTS
