The Wolf Amongst Us 2 developer Telltale Video games confirmed layoffs on the firm “as a consequence of market situations,” however mentioned all its in-development tasks are nonetheless within the works.
“On account of present market situations, we regrettably needed to let a few of our Telltale staff go just lately,” a Telltale Video games consultant mentioned in an emailed assertion to Polygon. “We didn’t take this motion frivolously, and our dedication to storytelling and discovering new methods to take action stays the identical. We’re grateful to everybody for his or her dedication alongside this journey, and we’re working to assist everybody impacted. All tasks at present in growth are nonetheless in manufacturing, and we’ve got no additional updates at the moment.’
An organization consultant declined to share the scope of the layoffs after former cinematic artist Jonah Huang, who labored at each iterations of Telltale Video games (earlier than the 2018 layoffs, and when the studio was revived in 2019), posted to social media that “most” of the staff was laid off in early September. One supply mentioned the inner Telltale Video games growth staff was below 10 folks; a Telltale Video games consultant mentioned below 10 folks have been laid off throughout Telltale departments.
The layoffs prolong into Telltale Video games’ newly acquired Flavourworks, which was introduced below the Telltale Video games umbrella in August. Flavourworks is a London-based interactive video firm that makes use of its TouchVideo know-how to create full-motion video video games, like Erica, a thriller that was launched in 2019. Each Telltale Video games and Flavourworks are not less than partially funded by Hiro Capital, which posits itself as a video games and metaverse funder.
Three sources advised Polygon that Flavourworks had roughly 12 folks employed on the time of the acquisition, most of whom got redundancy letters simply weeks after the announcement — notices required by U.Ok. legislation to let staff know their jobs are in danger. At the moment, Flavourworks management advised staff that the corporate solely had money to fund three extra months of labor, however that they have been searching for further, new funding. A handful of staff have been laid off within the weeks that adopted, and the layoffs will proceed into December, the folks mentioned, if new funding isn’t secured. A Telltale Video games consultant declined to touch upon Flavourworks.
The Flavourworks staff was reportedly siloed off from Telltale Video games. Sources advised Polygon that the Flavourworks staff was by no means given the possibility to combine into the corporate’s workflow, which gave staff cause to consider one thing was up — regardless of the preliminary pleasure to have been acquired by such a notable studio as Telltale Video games. The velocity of the state of affairs left staff confused: How are we even on this place, so quickly after an acquisition?
The Expanse: A Telltale Collection, developed in collaboration with Deck 9, is Telltale Video games’ first launch for the reason that studio’s devastating implosion in 2018. At the moment, Telltale Video games laid off the vast majority of its workers, conserving only a fraction of its 250 workers onboard to complete up ongoing obligations. Telltale Video games, as a model, was infamously spun up once more in 2019 after its belongings have been purchased up by LCG Leisure. The brand new firm remained a lot smaller, but it surely introduced on a number of individuals who had beforehand labored on the outdated studio.
Alongside The Expanse, the brand new incarnation of Telltale Video games is anticipated to launch a follow-up to the five-episode The Wolf Amongst Us, a 2013 sport based mostly on Invoice Willingham’s Fables comedian e-book. The Wolf Amongst Us 2 was initially introduced in 2020 for a 2023 launch, but it surely was delayed out of the 12 months in March. This venture is presumably nonetheless within the works, judging by Telltale Video games’ assertion that every one ongoing tasks are nonetheless in growth. AdHoc Studio is signed on to help with The Wolf Amongst Us 2, whereas Deck 9 assisted with The Expanse: A Telltale Collection.
Replace: This story has been up to date to incorporate additional remark from Telltale Video games.