2023 has been dominated by an endless news cycle of widespread layoffs across the entirety of the games industry, and that is continuing even as we move into the final weeks of the year. The most recent studio to have suffered cutbacks is Codemasters, the developer of EA Sports WRC and F1 23, among many other racing games.
Parent company Electronic Arts confirmed in a statement to IGN that the UK-based studio had suffered layoffs, citing “evolving business needs and priorities”. EA did not, however, comment on the scale of the layoffs, so it’s unclear how many at Codemasters have been affected.
“Our business is constantly changing as we strive to deliver amazing games and services that keep our players engaged, connected, and inspired,” the company said. “At times, this requires the company to make small-scale organizational changes that align our teams and resources to meet evolving business needs and priorities. We continue to work closely with those affected by these changes, providing appropriate support throughout this process.”
Elsewhere, news emerged today that Insurgency: Sandstorm developer New World Interactive had also been hit with layoffs, becoming one of several Embracer Group-owned studios to suffer such cutbacks in recent months, including Crystal Dynamics, Volition, which was shuttered entirely, and Free Radical Design, which is on the verge of closure. As of last month, Embracer Group had laid off around 900 people across all of its affected studios.
Other studios that have been affected with layoffs over the course of the year include the likes of 343 Industries, The Coalition, Bungie, Epic Games, Naughty Dog, Media Molecule, BioWare, Telltale Games, Creative Assembly, Team17, Firaxis Games, and many others.