Heart Machine Cuts Staff Days Before Game Launch

Heart Machine, the independent game developer known for "Hyper Light Drifter" and "Solar Ash," laid off employees this week, less than two weeks before the Nov. 11 release of its latest title "Possessor(s)," according to a report from industry publication Game Developer.

At least four developers posted about losing their jobs on social-media platform Bluesky on Oct. 28 and 29. One employee said their position would end after the game ships and they would begin looking for new work in December. Another staffer, who had worked at the studio for nearly six years, described an abrupt departure.

Third Round of Layoffs Hits Indie Game Studio in Under a Year

The cuts represent Heart Machine's third round of layoffs in roughly a year. Earlier in October, the studio confirmed previous job reductions while also ending development on "Hyper Light Breaker," an early-access game released in January. The company previously attributed workforce reductions to external factors including shifts in funding availability and consolidation across the videogame industry.

A video shared by one affected developer underscored the immediacy of the layoffs and raised questions about whether any contributors to "Possessor(s)" would remain employed when the game debuts.

Publisher Devolver Digital, which is releasing "Possessor(s)," has also trimmed staff this year. In April, the company cut 40% of employees at Nerial, one of its internal studios, according to its fiscal 2024 investor presentation.

The timing of the layoffs illustrates the financial strain on small and midsize game developers, even during major product launches. Despite the workforce reductions, "Possessor(s)" remains scheduled for release Nov. 11.