In a surprising turn of events, the San Francisco-based independent game publisher Humble Games, which operates under the wider umbrella of Ziff Davis, has laid off all of its staff, totaling 36 employees. This drastic move has stirred concerns about the stability of indie game publishing during what Humble Games describes as "challenging economic times." In a statement posted on social media last week, a spokesperson for the company explained, "This decision was not made lightly; it involved much deliberation and careful thought, with the goal of ensuring the stability and support of our developers and ongoing projects," as reported by the San Francisco Chronicle.
Contrary to the company's claims of merely restructuring operations, several former employees, including Senior QA Emilee Kieffer, have suggested through social media that this marks the company's end. This sentiment has been echoed on platforms such as Reddit, with users expressing dismay at the impact this layoff could have on the indie game community, per a thread on r/pcgaming.
The media conglomerate Ziff Davis, which owns IGN and other gaming media sites such as Eurogamer, has not made any formal statement regarding the layoffs' impact on the Humble Bundle storefront. Despite this turmoil, Humble Games has remained adamant that they are not shutting down, as outlined in an update provided by Insider Gaming. The exact consequences that the layoffs will have on the development and support of current and future titles remain to be seen. However, developers of games such as "Bō: Path of the Teal Lotus" have signaled worries about the capability to update their games moving forward.
This series of layoffs is not an isolated event but rather a continuation of a larger trend, with over 11,000 layoffs reported in the gaming industry in 2024. It underscores the challenges and volatility faced by those within the gaming sector, particularly the indie game development scene. Amidst these changes, Humble Games' statement, as per the San Francisco Chronicle – has sought to reassure stakeholders: "Supporting our development partners and assisting former team members remains our top priority. We are committed to making this transition as smooth as possible for everyone involved. Thank you for your support and compassion during this challenging period. It is deeply appreciated."
