Humble Games, the independent video game publisher known for titles like Signalis and Forager, is in the midst of a deep restructuring that has left many of its employees without jobs. Despite initial rumors of a complete shutdown, the company assures that it will continue to support the developers with whom it has publishing agreements. However, the situation is more complex than it seems.
Early yesterday morning, an employee of Humble Games announced on LinkedIn that 36 employees received the news of their dismissal and the alleged closure of the company. Another employee confirmed that everyone in the company had lost their jobs. Chris Radley, a former employee who left in 2022, reported that the entire staff of Humble Games has been replaced by an external consulting firm.
According to Aftermath, this consulting firm is The Powell Group, which has taken control after the failed sale attempt by Ziff Davis, owner of Humble Games. It is worth noting that Davis is also the owner of important video game websites such as IGN, Eurogamer, GamesIndustry.biz, and Rock Paper Shotgun.
The official statement from Humble Games, published on Twitter, insists that the company is “restructuring” rather than closing. The publisher assures that this restructuring will not affect Humble Bundle, the associated store known for its game bundles where you can pay what you want. However, uncertainty now reigns among the affected employees.
This event is part of a worrying trend in the video game industry, where workplace safety has been seriously compromised. In the first three months of 2024, companies like Sega, Unity, and Electronic Arts laid off thousands of workers. These massive layoffs are, at the very least, surprising in an industry that continues to grow and generate significant profits year after year.
