Games Industry Layoffs: June 2024

The global games industry experienced a continued trend of workforce reductions in June 2024, with at least 632 professionals losing their jobs. This figure brings the total number of industry layoffs for the first half of 2024 to approximately 11,000, a milestone that already exceeds the estimated 10,500 total job losses recorded throughout the entirety of 2023. These findings are based on data aggregated by the Game Industry Layoffs project, though the actual total is likely higher due to incomplete reporting from private firms and smaller studios.

Significant restructuring efforts drove the majority of these cuts. Notable examples include the Sumo Group, which reduced its headcount by 250 employees and closed its Timbre Games studio, and Behaviour Interactive, which laid off 95 staff members as part of a strategic pivot toward specific horror titles. Other major organizations, including Gameloft, Avalanche Studios, and VRChat, also implemented substantial staff reductions, while several smaller entities, such as Paradox Tectonic and Pieces Interactive, ceased operations entirely.

The industry’s current contraction reflects a broader period of instability characterized by studio closures and corporate downsizing. While the 632 layoffs in June are consistent with the monthly figures observed in March, they remain significantly lower than the peak of over 6,000 job losses recorded in January 2024. Because many companies do not publicly disclose internal staffing changes, these figures serve as a conservative estimate of the ongoing economic pressure facing developers and publishers worldwide.