Zynga is conducting a review of its US and UK operations, with Star Wars Hunters and CSR2 studio NaturalMotion apparently to be hit hardest.
Gamesindustry.biz has obtained a statement from NaturalMotion owner Zynga confirming the review. The outlet also reports that layoffs have begun already at NaturalMotion, with its Birmingham office expected to close.
NaturalMotion’s latest launch, Star Wars Hunters, has so far failed to pick up much traction after many years in development and several delays. The game launched in June this year and according to Appmagic estimates has so far attracted just over 4.3m downloads and $2.4m in revenue (minus the 30% platform fees).
The full statement obtained by gamesindustry.biz from Zynga reads: “An important part of connecting the world through games is being committed to operating efficiently. As part of this effort, we have made the difficult decision to review our UK and US operations, which may impact a number of roles in the US and UK.”
“We believe these changes will help to ensure that the studio is sustainable for the long term and aligned with our future development needs. Importantly, we do not anticipate any disruptions in service to our players during this transition, and we will work closely with affected employees to ensure they are treated with the utmost consideration, respect, and care.”
