Space Ape is now effectively closed, with around 70 staff joining Supercell London, 30 laid off, and the rest continuing work on Chrome Valley Customs, Fastlane and Transformers: Earth Wars at new companies.
Space Ape had employed around 150 staff before it was fully acquired by Supercell back in November 2024. Supercell has confirmed to us that “around 70” Space Ape staff have new roles at what is now Supercell London.
Separately, we understand that Space Ape games Chrome Valley Customs and Fastlane will soon be owned by new startup Offroad Games, formed by ex-Space Ape general manager and product director Geoffrey Gilles. Offroad is poised to take on at least 10-12 former Space Ape staff, we’re told.
Meanwhile, around 10 staff working on Transformers: Earth Wars will find a new home at Chinese publisher Yodo1. The company was already running the game in China, and will now publish the game globally, we understand.
Those who did not land roles at Supercell London, Offroad or Yodo1 have been laid off. We’re told that around 30 people have left or are about to leave Space Ape as a result. Some Space Ape staff were offered roles at Supercell and the other companies involved but declined, we’re told.
Additionally, we’ve been told that while this process has been at times “chaotic”, Supercell has treated those affected by the layoffs well, and every effort was made to reduce the number of layoffs overall. The Finnish firm continues to support the teams on Chrome Valley Customs, Fastlane and Transformers as they move to their new homes.
Supercell sent us the below statement:
“We’ve been working hard to ensure that the transition is as smooth as possible for both Space Apes and Supercellians. As part of this, we’ve worked with each individual at Space Ape to explore their options, including interviewing for available roles at Supercell.”
“We are very excited about combining the talent of Space Ape and Supercell in the new Supercell London office, starting a new era of Supercell with a strong presence in the UK. We’re pleased that around 70 of the Space Ape team will be joining us at Supercell in London, and we wish those moving onto new ventures all the future success.”
As we reported in January, around 30 ex-Space Ape staff have already moved to music game spin-out studio NextBeat, now home to Beatstar and Country Star.
NextBeat was formed by Space Ape cofounder Simon Hade and music industry veteran Olly Barnes. Former Space Ape CFO Joe Adams, marketing lead Derek De Filippo and head of operations Imogen Turner also joined the new outfit, which is set to release rock and metal-themed editions of the Beatstar formula later this year.
Supercell is also a minority investor in NextBeat, which told us earlier this year that it expects to announce a “substantial” external investment round soon.
