US-based independent video game company Certain Affinity is the latest developer to announce layoffs, a first in their 17-year history. The announcement was made Thursday afternoon in a blog post on Certain Affinity’s website.
Certain Affinity was founded in 2006 in Austin, Texas by ex-employees of Bungie and other companies including ex-members of companies Microsoft, Electronic Arts, and NCSoft. Since then Certain Affinity has developed and assisted development on a plethora if iconic games including Halo 2, Left 4 Dead, Halo Reach, Doom 2016, and Halo Infinite. By 2021, Certain Affinity has an employee base of over 250.
According to Certain Affinity CEO Max Hoberman, 25 U.S. employees are set to be let go. These layoffs are said to impact the teams running their business operations.
Hoberman pointed to the difficulty of securing funding for new “lead and development projects” from investors as one of the many reasons leading to these layoffs.
It’s unknown whether the games currently in development, including a unnamed first-person shooter (FPS), will be impacted. What is known is that the company’s current focus is on supporting the employees that are being let go and the rest of its team of developers.
“…Our current focus is on our team and the well-being of those most impacted, whom we are supporting with severance pay and benefits continuation.” Hoberman wrote. “We are also making their vested awards under our Stock Equity Plan portable so they may benefit from the company’s success in the future.”
“We have built an amazing culture where we all come together to support one another in times of need. We ask for your understanding and patience while we navigate this unprecedented event. Thank you,” he concluded.
There is no sign of stopping in the latest waves of game industry layoffs. Alongside Certain Affinity, this week has seen layoffs from big names like Nintendo and Sega. As of 2024, around 8,000 workers have been let go.