Embracer Group layoffs continue at Lost Boys Interactive, employees report
Update: This article has now been updated with a response sent to Ny Breaking Gaming by Lost Boys Interactive.
A number of employees at Embracer-owned studio Lost Boys Interactive have taken to LinkedIn and Twitter/X to say they have been fired.
The studio, owned by Borderlands developer Gearbox Software (a subsidiary of Embracer Group) previously assisted in the development of games, among other things Little Tina’s Wonderlands And Diablo 4. It is currently unclear how many people have been affected by the layoffs.
Ny Breaking Gaming (TRG) reached out to Lost Boys Interactive for comment and we were told the studio has made the “difficult decision to restructure” to ensure future success. The full statement reads: “Lost Boys Interactive has made the difficult decision to restructure our studio to ensure we can succeed despite the headwinds currently facing the industry.
“Unfortunately, this means we will be separating from some of our team members and working closely with those affected. We know this is a difficult time for this talented and experienced group of people and will provide support and assistance through this transition to those who are leaving.”
As an aftermath reports, a producer at Lost Boys Interactive, Jared Pace, was among those who took to social media with the news. On Twitter / X, Tempo wrote: “Stop me if you’ve heard this before, but Lost Boys Interactive announced today that it is laying off part of its team, including myself. Please reach out if you know someone who needs a producer or other position. It appears that many disciplines and (experience) levels have been affected.”
Producer Kevin Eckstein shared something similar afterstating that he was also affected by layoffs, adding: “Many talented people are now looking for work.”
Senior game system designer Travis Thompkins wrote: “Getting fired is never fun, but I’ve survived this before… I’ll survive it again. Shout out (to) my team at Lost Boys Interactive; for those who are loosed with me, and for those who remain. We made some crazy things.”
Last year, a huge number of employees at Embracer’s studios were made redundant as part of a wider restructuring. From the end of September 2023 more than 900 people were affectedbut this number increased further before the end of the year with reported layoffs Fish labs, Slipgate Ironworks and 3D Realms. Time splitters studio Free Radical Design was also closed in December.
In November, Embracer’s interim chief strategy officer, Phil Rogers, described the mass layoffs as a “painful process” but said restructuring “how we win.” He added that “it is necessary for us to achieve our new and necessary goals.”
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