Support for Sandstorm to continue alongside development of other unannounced games
InsurgencydeveloperNew WorldInteractive are the latest Embracer Group-owned studio to lay off staff, as part of the Swedish conglomerate’s efforts to reduce their debts after a series of recklessstudio acquisitions. It’s not clear how many people have been affected, but New World Interactive’s direct corporate parent Saber Interactive have revealed that one unannounced project has been cancelled.
“Saber can confirm there have been restructuring changes involving our New World Interactive subsidiary,” reads a Saber statement shared today. “This reorganization has unfortunately resulted in layoffs at the studio.”
“We are working to fill existing open roles within Saber with individuals affected by these changes wherever feasible and we will be providing severance packages to those employees impacted,” it goes on. According to the statement, only one New World Interactive project has been cancelled. The studio will continue to work on Insurgency: Sandstorm, their flagship military shooter, together with several other unannounced games. Saber have also denied a rumour that New World Interactive as a whole are being shuttered.
Embracerlaid off over 900 people this summer, following a seemingly endless series of studio purchases that saw the Group take onover 200 game development projects, before the reported collapse of a $2 investment billion deal sent the whole process into reverse. Amongst other “restructurings”, Embracer have closedRed Faction creator Volition,cut Chorus developer Fishlabs down by half, andlaid off two dozen staff at Mythforce studio Beamdog.
The Saber announcement follows reports fromSecond Wind’s Nick CalandraandInsider Gaming, as passed on byVG247. According to IG, Saber broke the news to staff this Monday 4th December.
Best of luck to everybody at NWI who has lost their jobs this week.
