Virtuos Confirms Mass Layoffs Affecting Nearly 280 Staff Across Europe and Asia for Oblivion Remastered Development

Mass Layoffs Announced at Virtuos Amid Industry Changes

Virtuos, a prominent co-development studio recognized for its collaboration with Konami on Metal Gear Solid Delta: Snake Eater and its recent work on The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered for Bethesda, has confirmed reports of significant layoffs affecting approximately 280 employees. This figure represents nearly 7% of the company’s total workforce.

Details of the Layoffs

The news, initially broken by French journalist Gauthier Andres, indicates that internal challenges may have contributed to the layoffs at Virtuos. Following the report, Virtuos officially acknowledged the job cuts but refrained from discussing any specific internal issues, emphasizing their commitment to managing this transition with “care, transparency, and respect.”

Company Statement on Strategic Evolution

In its formal statement, Virtuos mentioned, “Virtuos is evolving to meet the changing needs of our partners and the industry.”The company is focusing on enhancing its capabilities in high-value co-development, which encompasses a broad spectrum of services, including complete game engineering, advanced art creation, and live service solutions.

Rebalancing Workforce and Addressing Market Demands

The layoffs predominantly affected teams in Asia and Europe, with approximately 200 positions in Asia and 70 in Europe, including fewer than 10 jobs in France. The studio noted the necessity of aligning team locations more closely with client needs to better facilitate the increasingly iterative nature of co-development processes.

Commitment to Ongoing Projects

Despite the staffing cuts, Virtuos reassured its partners that it remains dedicated to ongoing projects, including Oblivion Remastered, Cyberpunk 2077, and Metal Gear Solid Delta: Snake Eater. The studio is keen to maintain its reputation amid the shifting landscape of game development.

Concerns Over Quality and Workload

Andres’ earlier report highlighted potential concerns regarding the studio’s high expectations for project quality relative to given budgets. Allegations suggest that the team behind Oblivion Remastered faced increased pressure to produce outstanding work without receiving royalties from the game’s sales. This ambitious approach might attract future contracts but poses a risk of exhausting the very talent Virtuos aims to showcase.

As the gaming industry evolves, these developments at Virtuos will be closely monitored by industry observers, especially regarding how they balance quality expectations with employee well-being.

Source & Images