Layoffs have hit Trion Worlds. IGN sources suggest that well over half the company has been let go, with some suggesting numbers as high as 80%.
The San Diego studio -- where development of MMO Defiance took place -- is said to have been hit the hardest. A source suggests that employees are being escorted out of the building and that senior leaders from various Trion teams may not receive severance due to "undelivered services." Another source tells us the layoffs were at all studios, "mostly Defiance support staff and dev staff."
A Trion representative confirmed the layoffs and provided the following statement to IGN:
gamigo confirmed that it has acquired major assets from Trion Worlds, known for online and console MMO games such as Rift, Defiance, Trove and ArcheAge.
The gaming industry, like any industry really, is a cruel mistress. We witness this cold reality yet again when we see the studio Trion Worlds, which was behind Rift, Trove and Archeage, having to cut over 150 workers today.
An ArcheAge producer letter shared on the MMO's forums seeks to calm the nerves of fans after a wave of layoffs at Trion Worlds.
Does anyone know how big the actual company / teams affected were? I was reading elsewhere upwards of 100 people?
Also, you have to wonder how this will affect RIFT (I know they said it wouldn't but you do wonder) and is this now a death bell for the game Defiance? How well is that game going to be supported moving forward?