Microsoft lays off Lionhead employees
Number of staff affected to be less than 10% of workforce
Microsoft has today let an undisclosed number of employees of its Lionhead studio go following the completion of latest title Fable: The Journey.
The company would not disclose exact numbers, but suggested that less than 10 per cent of the current workforce will be affected by the time the consultation process ends.
"There is a thoughtful and fair consultation process for all employees to ensure they have the best possible chance of finding a role inside Microsoft Studios," said the company in a statement to GamesIndustry International.
"We are working closely with the affected employees during this difficult time, and helping them to explore opportunities. We do not have an exact number to share but by the end of 2012 these reductions will account for less than 10 per cent of the overall headcount at Lionhead"
Kinect game Fable: The Journey was released last week and performed poorly in the UK charts only entering at number 37. Reviews of the title have been muted, with the game scoring an average Metacritic rating of 62 per cent.
"Following the completion of Fable: The Journey, Lionhead Studios has begun work on its next projects. As is common in the games industry, a smaller headcount is needed as projects kick-off and ramp up as full-production gets underway," continued Microsoft.
"At this time a small number of positions have been identified as at risk of redundancy and the affected employees were notified today. We are working very closely with those people during this difficult time, to help them explore alternative opportunities within Microsoft - including new roles at Microsoft Studios which is growing in the UK and actively hiring across all locations, including Lionhead, Rare, Soho Productions and our recently announced new studio in London."
Microsoft added that it hopes to add over 100 positions to its internal studios in between now and June 2013.
Last year co-founder of Lionhead, Peter Molyneux, left the studio but remained as creative consultant on Fable: The Journey.
My condolences to any who lost their jobs.
Edited 1 times. Last edit by Dan Howdle on 16th October 2012 3:31pm
No one has actually been laid off yet - but let that stop GamesIndustry.biz from sticking an attention seeking headline up there. I swear, you lot are becoming worse and worse every week.
Here's to those of you affected finding other roles wtihin MS, if that's what you want.
That will be a few more mobile studios in Guildford then. Unless Jagex set up a recruiting office there again and move them all to Cambridge.
In any event, good luck to those affected.
"Thanks for all your hard work finishing that off guys. Now f**k off,we can earn without you now".
Condolences to those getting spat out. Been there a lot and my only advice is to get together make your own stuff. Or work for a smaller company who might still give a shit about you.
Edited 2 times. Last edit by Paul Johnson on 16th October 2012 8:36pm
In any case, best of luck to those involved.
Edited 6 times. Last edit by Andrew on 16th October 2012 11:34pm
As PM seems to have been commenting on everything across the game scene - how about seeing him comment about this situation and the mess that seems to have embroiled Lionhead during and after his departure?
Edited 1 times. Last edit by kevin williams on 17th October 2012 2:49am
as someone said earlier, "Thanks for all the hard work but don't let the door hit you on the way out."
I agree contractors are the people you want for scaling up and down they KNOW that they are short term (unless they impress so much they get offered permanent and want to take a permanent role) redundancies does imply full time staff.
if making full time staff redundant is a common thing how is anyone in the games industry meant to buy a house? have a family with children? who have friends and go to schools you sign up to, if your job is as secure as someone on a six-12 month contract?
You'd think by now all the "Geeks" making games in the bedroom that founded this industry would have grown up in to fully fledged Adults WITH families by now shifting their perspective on life to be more than staff are disposable as they are just like I was when i was younger playing games and eating pizza till 4am.
Note to games industry "we want to have Lives!"
Anyway, for those who may end up getting laid off, I do feel for them - we went through something similar when my wife worked at an animation studio in the midlands. Interestingly enough, we noticed last night that the former MD is going through a trial now where he's accused of stealing something like £16m from investors. There's bad management and plain wrong:)
Like I said, good luck to any affected. You'll come out the other side absolutely fine, however painful it seems at the time.