A few folks over at Playtonic, the UK-based studio known for creating Yooka-Laylee, are unfortunately facing redundancy. The news initially came to light through a Bluesky post from former community manager Steve James, who left the company recently. Steve expressed his sadness, anger, and concern for his ex-colleagues, mentioning that many talented individuals are “at risk” of losing their jobs at Playtonic. He urged people to lend a helping hand if they see any of them searching for new opportunities.
On LinkedIn, Steve and current brand manager Anni Valkama have been sharing posts from other former Playtonic employees who are now on the lookout for work. Among them are Junior VFX Artist Joupin Ahmed, Assistant Producer Mae Davidson, and UI Artist James Feakins, who are all facing the possibility of redundancy. It’s a tough situation, and we can only hope that those affected find their footing and move forward. Meanwhile, Playtonic Friends is gearing up to release Castle Pixel’s Cattle Country and working on a remake of their very first game, Yooka-Replaylee, slated for the Switch 2.
Unfortunately, the gaming industry as a whole is experiencing layoffs, with big names like EA and Respawn recently taking a hit. Even publications like Polygon have not been spared, facing layoffs after a sale from Vox Media to Valnet. It’s a challenging time for many in the industry, and the impacts are being felt across the board. We’ve reached out to Playtonic’s Managing Director Gavin Price for further insights, but responses are still pending. In times like these, it’s crucial to support those affected and come together as a community to navigate through uncertain waters. So, let’s keep an eye out for opportunities to lend a helping hand and show solidarity in any way we can.
