Today is not a good day for gaming news. I mean, it’s not been a great year for that in general, but I digress. Today’s dose of really not fun gaming news comes to us thanks to Behaviour Interactive, the studio behind Dead by Daylight.
Thanks to those dreaded “strategic changes for future growth”, the studio has announced, and you guessed it, more layoffs.
In a press conference, Behaviour Interactive revealed that while they currently have 1,300 employees, up from 575, and the unprecedented popularity of the videogame industry is responsible for that growth, they also have unprecedented competition.
Within this challenging context, Behaviour has renewed its focus on its historical strengths. These include the company’s leading position in horror gaming, its production expertise, and its thirty-year history of providing exceptional service to its development partners.
To pursue this clarified vision, Behaviour will implement multiple strategic changes to its corporate structure, improving the distinction between its product, production, business development, and marketing resources. As a result of these changes, the company will reduce its team by up to 95 employees, 70 of whom are based in Montreal.
According to Behaviour Interactive, these layoffs will not impact the development of Dead by Daylight other than putting the fear of the gods into their remaining employees – but that’s neither here nor there in their eyes.
Behaviour Interactive co-founder and CEO Rémi Racine also took a moment in the press conference to express “deep personal appreciation for any employee affected by today’s changes,” and I guess that’s something. I mean, it’s not a job, or food on the table, or stability, but #blessed, right?
While changes to our structure and strategic vision have led to challenging decisions, we are confident that these decisions will position us for continued success.
As we begin the next phase of Behaviour’s growth, our commitment to excellence in our products and workplace culture remains steadfast.
This latest round of layoffs follows less than five months after their previous round of layoffs, which said 40 people were out of a job because of “changing market conditions.”
Remember when gaming was just about good vibes and good times? Yeah, neither do I.