Highlights
- Playtika Layoffs 2026 Result in 15% Workforce Cut Impacting 450 Employees
- The AI-focused restructuring will cost between $12M to $15M.
- This is Playtika’s fourth major round of layoffs since 2022.
Mobile games publisher Playtika is laying off 15% of its global workforce, affecting more than 450 employees, as part of a restructuring aimed at shifting to leaner teams powered by AI (artificial intelligence) and automation. The decision was disclosed in an SEC (Securities and Exchange Commission) filing published Jan. 14, 2026, and the company expects to complete the process during Q1 (first quarter) of 2026.
Playtika employs more than 3K people across 15 offices worldwide, with more than 1,270 employees based in Israel, including senior management.
The company said the move is part of a broader adjustment to its cost structure and a reallocation of resources across its portfolio of games, which collectively reach more than 20M monthly active users. Its studios include Wooga and Seriously.
Playtika Layoffs 2026 Tied to Shift Toward Leaner, AI-Powered Teams
In an internal email included in the filing, CEO and co-founder Robert Antokol said the company is undergoing “a fundamental shift” in how it operates, citing changes in the economic environment for mobile games.
“If we do not adjust our cost structure today, we compromise our ability to invest in tomorrow,” Antokol wrote, adding that Playtika is “moving away from headcount-heavy operations to streamlined teams powered by AI and automation.”
The restructuring plan is expected to cost between $12 million USD and $15M, primarily for severance, notice-period payments, employee benefits, and related expenses. While the cuts are expected to generate operating efficiencies, Playtika said a substantial portion of the savings will be reinvested into growth initiatives, making the impact on overall profitability dependent on timing and scale.
This is the fourth round of mass layoffs at Playtika since mid-2022, following cuts of about 250 jobs in June 2022, more than 600 in December 2022, up to 400 in January 2024, and roughly 160 roles in June 2025, all previously described by the company as efficiency-driven measures.
