Unknown 9: Awakening Developer Faces Layoffs Following Game’s Underperformance

Unknown 9: Awakening Faces Major Setbacks

The highly anticipated release of Unknown 9: Awakening generated considerable excitement prior to its launch. However, post-release, the game has been met with an unexpected silence regarding updates and news. This downturn has had significant repercussions for Reflector Entertainment, as the game’s underperformance has led to substantial layoffs within the company.

Company Impact and Workforce Reduction

Unknown 9: Awakening, intended to be the inaugural entry in a sweeping action-adventure series complete with a rich multimedia universe—including podcasts, novels, and comic adaptations—now faces an uncertain future. Recently, Reflector Entertainment announced on their website that approximately 18% of its workforce has been laid off. Notably, the announcement was subsequently removed, raising questions about the company’s transparency during this tumultuous period.

Reasons Behind the Layoffs

According to official statements, the layoffs were attributed to the studio’s transition into a new development phase. Employees who were let go reportedly held positions that were not aligned with the needs of current projects. To assist those affected, Reflector has committed to providing severance packages along with access to medical, emotional, and career planning support.

Industry-Wide Layoffs Amidst New Year

As we move through January, the gaming industry has already witnessed a troubling trend of job cuts, contrary to hopes for increased stability this year. Reports indicate that about 295 individuals have experienced layoffs within the gaming sector in 2023, as tracked by the Gaming Layoffs website.

Departments Affected and High-Profile Departures

The specific departments impacted by the layoffs remain unclear, but sources suggest that teams from Quality Assurance (QA), marketing, art, and narrative were among those affected. Notable employees who have publicly acknowledged their job searches include Narrative and Game Designer Anna Karina Bermudez, along with Brand Manager Manou Deneuvel.

Canceled Projects and Future Speculations

Reflector’s Chief Content Officer, Herve Hoerdt, confirmed via LinkedIn that a new project, which was still in the conceptualization stage, has been scrapped. This decision was made in light of the project’s unsustainability for the studio’s future direction, resulting in further redundancies.

Performance of Unknown 9: Awakening

Reflecting on the situation, Hoerdt characterized the game’s lackluster sales as a “failure”for the company’s inaugural project. Although specific sales figures have not been released, he indicated that the game’s performance fell significantly short of the company’s expectations.

Source & Images