Dave Gallacher, a QA manager at Helldivers 2 studio Arrowhead, has issued a sharp critique of the current gaming industry landscape. Following a decade-long tenure at DICE, Gallacher joined Arrowhead this summer and has been vocal about the widespread job losses currently hitting the sector.
Gallacher’s comments arrive as major corporations continue significant workforce reductions. Xbox is currently in the process of cutting 3,200 jobs, while Ubisoft is on track to reach 4,000 total layoffs since 2022. Embracer Group’s recent history, characterized by a series of studio closures and canceled projects, was described by Gallacher as being “indistinguishable from a natural disaster.”
The Critique of Industry Leadership
Writing in a recent LinkedIn thread, Gallacher expressed deep frustration with the decision-makers behind these corporate restructures. “Each structural point of our industry is controlled by money and those with it have been greedy morons for the past 10+ years,” Gallacher stated. He questioned how leadership at companies like Ubisoft and Embracer are not facing more severe consequences for their tactics, noting that the primary victims are the thousands of talented developers left searching for work.
Gallacher’s analysis of the situation is grim. Reflecting on his own experience monitoring industry trends, he noted, “For the past 3 years, I've used the phrase 'this year is going to be a bloodbath,' relating to the games industry. And somehow it gets worse each year.”
Concerns Over AI and Corporate Priorities
Beyond the layoffs themselves, Gallacher highlighted his disdain for how industry capital is being allocated. He pointed to CEOs who discuss reaching “billions of players” while simultaneously redirecting resources into AI-driven development. “Where is that money going?” Gallacher asked. “A deluded CEO speaking of reaching 'billions of players' whilst pouring the newly pilfered wages of talented Devs into the plagiarism machine (AI). Absolute darkest timeline shit.”
A Pattern of Disregard
The critique extends to several other industry giants. Gallacher referenced Electronic Arts (EA), which reportedly laid off staff from the Battlefield 6 team following a launch the company itself described as the biggest in the franchise’s history, with 20 million units sold. Similarly, Epic Games cut over 1,000 jobs in March, a decision CEO Tim Sweeney attributed to a downturn in Fortnite engagement, despite the game’s $26 billion success.
Gallacher suggests that worker-owned studios may be the only viable path forward for the industry, offering a potential alternative to the current model dominated by what he calls “vultures.” While he acknowledges that the industry remains complicated and capable of driving obsessive behavior, his stance remains clear: the current trajectory of mass layoffs at major publishers is unsustainable and deeply damaging to the people who build these games.