DON'T NOD Announces Restructuring Plan, Layoffs Expected

DON'T NOD Undergoes Strategic Restructuring

DON'T NOD, the studio behind the recently released Aphelionhas announced a significant restructuring initiative. The company stated its intention to implement these changes to 'maintain its competitiveness' within the evolving gaming industry. While specific details regarding the scope of this restructuring were not immediately provided in the initial press release, the inclusion of a 'job protection plan' suggests that employee layoffs are a likely component of the transformation.

Further information regarding the company's business adjustments and the extent of any potential job reductions is expected to be disclosed later this week. This follows a scheduled meeting of DON'T NOD's board of directors with employee representative bodies, set to occur after the market closes on September 3rd. The company has affirmed that all subsequent actions taken as part of its 'transformation plan' will adhere to regulatory obligations concerning market disclosure.

This announcement comes amidst broader industry discussions and prior rumors regarding potential job cuts at DON'T NOD. Back in June, a French journalist, Sylvain Trinel, had indicated a period of significant layoffs across the gaming sector, specifically mentioning DON'T NOD alongside other major developers like Quantic Dream, in addition to companies under the Xbox umbrella, such as id Software and Bethesda. These predictions coincided with substantial layoffs affecting approximately 1,600 employees across Xbox's various divisions.

DON'T NOD's most recent release, Aphelionlaunched in May on PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X/S. The title received a mixed reception, reflected in its 'Mixed' overall rating on Steam. The studio is not unfamiliar with organizational changes involving staff reductions; last year, nine employees were laid off from its Montreal-based studio. This was confirmed by principal cinematic artist Mary Pouliot and technical artist Laurent Dufresne, with Pouliot noting the absence of cinematic artists at the Montreal location post-layoffs. The French game developers' union, Syndicat de Travailleureuses du Jeu Video, later stated these previous layoffs were part of cost reductions across the group.

Despite these internal shifts, DON'T NOD has confirmed its ongoing work on developing video game adaptations based on Netflix's intellectual properties, indicating continued development efforts alongside the restructuring.

Key Facts

• DON'T NOD announced a restructuring plan to enhance its competitive position.
• The restructuring includes a 'job protection plan,' indicating potential employee layoffs.
• Further details on the company's changes are expected after September 3rd.
• The studio previously laid off nine employees from its Montreal studio last year.
• DON'T NOD is currently developing video game adaptations based on Netflix IPs.