Double Fine has announced a reduction of 23 staff members, impacting approximately 25% of the studio's workforce. The cuts arrive just weeks after the developer split from Xbox to return to independent management.
Quick Facts
- Affected Staff: 23 employees (roughly 25% of the studio)
- Studio Head: Tim Schafer
- Recent Context: Double Fine recently returned to independent operations following a split from Xbox.
Studio head Tim Schafer addressed the reduction in a statement, noting that the decision was necessary for the studio's survival following its transition. "Today, Double Fine Productions let go of 23 members of our staff," Schafer said. "As a small, tightly-knit team, these actions are not taken lightly. Only the survival of our studio would ever make us consider such a painful action. Our transition to becoming an independent company also means becoming a size that we can sustain."
According to insider reporting by Jason Schreier, the studio maintained a headcount of around 90 employees prior to the downsizing, meaning the cuts affect about a quarter of the staff. Social media posts from affected workers indicate that some individuals had been with the studio for over a decade.
In a separate statement provided to Kotaku, an Xbox spokesperson confirmed the studio's status, stating, "Double Fine fully returned to independent management earlier this week, with their IP, catalog, and runway for their next games." Double Fine's leadership stated they are committed to supporting affected personnel as they navigate the transition.