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Humble Games, the publishing arm of Humble Bundle, has reportedly laid off its entire staff as part of a restructuring effort.
The news broke on July 23 when former employees took to social media to announce their sudden termination. Later, Humble Games confirmed the layoffs on LinkedIn.
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Humble Games statement | Source: LinkedIn
The layoff affected all 36 employees of the Humble Games division. Nicola Kwan, a former business development manager at Humble Bundle, stated in a LinkedIn post that the company was “shutting down”.
Senior QA Analyst Emilee Kieffer also confirmed the layoffs on X, expressing her disappointment at the volatility of the gaming industry and the industry’s focus on “exponential growth at the expense of making great games with great teams”.
Well friends, me and the entirety of Humble Games was laid off this morning
If you need senior/lead QA at your game studio HI HELLO I DON'T HAVE A JOB ANYMOOOORE! pic.twitter.com/giAPAiTDsx
— 🎃Emil-EEK!🎃 (@Emilee3D) July 23, 2024
In its statement, Humble Games released a statement confirming a restructuring of operations but denying that the company was shutting down. The publisher cited “challenging economic times for indie game publishing” as the reason for the difficult decision. They emphasized that the restructuring would not affect operations at Humble Bundle.
Humble Games, founded in 2017, has been responsible for publishing several titles, including Signalis, Unpacking, Prodeus and Slay the Spire.
Job Cuts Continue in the Gaming Sector
The video game industry is weathering a storm of layoffs in 2024. This latest Humble Games layoff follows a wave of job cuts in 2023, with major companies like Riot Games, Epic Games, and Twitch all announcing significant staff reductions. Estimates suggest the industry lost over 10,000 workers in 2023, with the actual number likely to be higher. Humble Games’ restructuring is just the latest chapter in this ongoing story, leaving many to question the future health of the gaming industry.
The mass staff layoff raises questions about the future of Humble Games and its impact on the indie gaming scene. While the company insists it is not shutting down, the extent of the layoffs suggests a significant shift in its operations.
