Layoffs are sadly all too common in the gaming industry, and employees of Eve Online developer CCP are the latest to be affected.
CCP Atlanta was hit with layoffs today, and the studio has been forced to cancel the development of what was the upcoming vampiric MMO World of Darkness Online.
A reported 56 employees lost their jobs, and those remaining with the studio will focus on games set in the Eve Online universe. World of Darkness had suffered setbacks before, and layoffs hit the studio back in 2011. It's unclear if the laid-off employees were exclusively working on the MMO, or if a combination of staff from that and other projects lost their jobs.
CCP CEO Hilmar Veigar Pétursson released a statement, regretfully explaining the project could no longer continue and apologizing to employees and fans.
"The decision to end the World of Darkness MMO project is one of the hardest I've ever had to make," said Pétursson. "I have always loved and valued the idea of a sandbox experience set in that universe, and over the years I've watched the team passionately strive to make that possible."
"To our current and former employees and fans of World of Darkness, I am truly sorry that we could not deliver the experience that we aspired to make. We dreamed of a game that would transport you completely into the sweeping fantasy of World of Darkness, but had to admit that our efforts were falling regretfully short. One day I hope we will make it up to you."
Layoffs are always sad news, and I'm sure Pétursson and CCP would have wanted this to go a different way. We all hope the former employees are able to find work quickly and land on their feet.
Source: Game Informer
