IllFonic Lays Off Staff, Games Industry Struggles

IllFonic Lays Off Staff Amidst Games Industry Struggles

Video game developer IllFonic, known for Friday the 13th: The Game and Predator: Hunting Grounds, has announced layoffs. CEO Charles Brungardt cited the challenging state of the games industry as the reason for the restructuring.

Layoffs and Industry Challenges

Brungardt’s statement on LinkedIn expressed regret over the job cuts, emphasizing the talent within the affected teams and encouraging other companies to consider hiring them. The company, with studios in Golden, Colorado and Tacoma, Washington, saw its licensed title, Friday the 13th: The Game, removed from sale last December due to expired licensing.

Their recent release, Killer Klowns from Outer Space: The Game, has seen a significant drop in concurrent players on Steam, suggesting a possible struggle to gain traction. While IllFonic hasn’t disclosed the number of affected employees, the news adds to a difficult year for the games industry.

A Difficult Year for the Games Industry

The article mentions that approximately 14,000 workers have reportedly lost their jobs in the games industry since the start of 2024, adding to the 10,500 laid off in 2023. This ongoing trend highlights the considerable challenges currently facing the video game development sector. The article suggests a need for deeper analysis into the reasons behind these widespread job losses.

Learn more: Follow the links in the original article to gain more context.