Phoenix Labs Faces Major Layoffs Following Acquisition and Game Update Backlash
Phoenix Labs, renowned for its titles Dauntless and Fae Farm, has recently announced significant layoffs affecting most of its workforce. This comes two years after the studio was subtly purchased by Forte, a company specializing in blockchain gaming.
Backdrop to the Layoffs
The recent job cuts were reported shortly after an unpopular update for Dauntless was released on Steam. The timing coincides with the impending early access launch of another one of their games, as shared by former employees on social media platforms.
Company’s Official Statement
In communications on Bluesky and LinkedIn, Phoenix Labs expressed that it was “another challenging day at Phoenix Labs.” They stated that they had made the “difficult decision to part ways with a large portion of our team,” citing necessary operational changes as the reason behind this unfortunate development.
Acknowledgment of Contributions
The company conveyed appreciation for the hard work put in by those affected and promised more information regarding future plans for both Dauntless and Fae Farm will be forthcoming in upcoming weeks.
Current Status of Games
Dauntless is classified as a free-to-play live service game, while Fae Farm operates under a premium model featuring online multiplayer options. Gaming industry sources have noted internal struggles at Phoenix Labs post-acquisition by Forte in 2023; however, this transition occurred without any public announcement from either party regarding ownership changes.
The Awakening Update Fallout
The latest Awakening update for Dauntless faced extensive criticism from players due to its newly implemented monetization strategies and altered progression systems. As results show, player feedback has led to overwhelmingly negative reviews flooding Steam’s platform concerning this update. In previous ownership under Singapore-based Garena – publishers of Free Fire – Phoenix labs underwent layoffs earlier when over 160 staff members were let go following Fortes’ acquisition after Garena decided to divest in 2023.
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