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Merge Games ceased to exist after it spent 15 years growing from a startup in a tiny attic to a 22-person team.
The indie publisher released hundreds of titles, among them popular games such as:
- Frostpunk
- Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Shredder’s Revenge
- Bramble: The Mountain King
- Dead Cells
- Spirittea
- Darkest Dungeon
- Indika
It was responsible for bringing the physical versions of many smaller indie games to market, titles that may otherwise have been published by limited-print companies. Its social media post said it couldn’t have done it “without people passionate about indie games.”
The publisher continued:
“If you see someone from Merge, just know that they’re an incredible person who worked their hardest.”
Following the layoffs and office closure earlier this month, Christina Seelye, CEO of Merge’s parent company Maximum Entertainment, said the move was part of a consolidation strategy that commenced in February.
Maximum Entertainment will manage the publisher’s portfolio, including upcoming releases.
Tough Year for the Gaming Industry
It’s the latest in many closures and layoffs to hit the gaming industry this year. Earlier this month, Until Dawn developer Ballistic Moon laid off an undisclosed number of employees across various departments. Around the same time, mobile games publisher Tilting Point cut 20% of its staff.
Larger studios haven’t been immune to cuts either. Bethesda shuttered several studios earlier in 2024, including Arkane Austin, developers of Redfall, and Hi-Fi Rush developers Tango Gameworks.
