Embracer-owned studio Black Forest Games reportedly plans to lay off approximately half of its employees.
According to aKotakusource, the cuts were announced on January 24. It’s claimed that the studio’s creative directors and most “if not all” of its managers are expected to keep their jobs, with more information to be confirmed next week.
Founded in 2012 and located in Offenburg, Germany,Black Forest Gameshas over 100 employees, according to its website.
Embracer operating groupTHQ Nordicacquired the studio in 2017, along with intellectual properties including Giana Sisters, Helldorado and Rogue Stormers.
In recent years, Black Forest Games has developed a couple ofDestroy All Humans!Remakes, and it’s currentlyworking on Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Last Ronin.
Fellow German THQ Nordic studioPiranha Bytes is reportedly facing closureas part ofEmbracer Group’s ongoing restructuring efforts.
Embracer announced last June that it wasimplementing a restructuring programmewhich would involve the closure of studios, layoffs and the cancellation of some projects.
It has since shut studios likeSaints Row developer Volition, Campfire Cabal andFree Radical Design, while others have reportedlybeen put up for sale, such asBorderlandsmakerGearbox.
Further reading
During its second financial quarter ending in September 2023, the company made more than 900 layoffs, with cuts impacting such studios asCrystal Dynamics,Beamdog,Zen StudiosandFishlabs.
Last month Embracer made layoffs atNew World Interactive,3D Realms and Slipgate Ironworks, and this month“a sizable portion” of Gearbox support studio Lost Boys Interactivewas also laid off.
