Mortal Kombat developer NetherRealm Studios seems to be the latest to join the string of layoffs in the industry. Several staff members have reportedly taken to social media to talk about the layoffs, which particularly affect the mobile team.
(Photo : NetherRealm Studios / Screenshot taken from Steam.)
Mortal Kombat Mobile Team Hit Hard
The reported layoffs at NetherRealm Studios were first revealed by quality assurance analyst Tony Lazzara, who posted on LinkedIn about the unfortunate event. He mentioned that the studio's mobile team had been shut down, resulting in numerous job losses. Lazzara went on to highlight the impact of these layoffs on live services for games like Mortal Kombat Mobile, Injustice 2, and Mortal Kombat Onslaught, adding that he was also affected.
Other employees soon followed suit, confirming their layoffs. Elizabeth Ramirez, an animator at the studio for nearly a decade, expressed her sadness and announced she would be seeking new opportunities in the gaming or film industry. Software engineer Antonio De Francesco also shared his experience, stating he was now looking for a new role and appreciated any support.
No Official Comment Yet
Despite these personal accounts, NetherRealm Studios has not yet made an official statement about the layoffs. Insider-Gaming reported that at least 50 employees were affected, but the exact number remains unclear.
The reported layoffs at NetherRealm Studios come after broader cuts were made by its parent company, Warner Bros. Discovery. Warner Bros. Discovery previously warned that a difficult year ahead was expected, partly due to disappointing sales of Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League. The company reportedly laid off nearly 1,000 employees this week alone.
This trend of worker layoffs reflects a challenging year for the gaming industry as over 10,000 jobs have been lost so far in 2024. This number is nearing the total of 10,500 layoffs reported for the entire industry in 2023.
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