Studio behind action RPG Dauntless and farming RPG Fae Farm sees major layoffs, “about 140” devs cut and 3-year game “abruptly canceled” mere weeks before reveal

Scrapped after three years of production

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Developer Phoenix Labs is undergoing a significant “reorganization” that’s led to big job cuts and the cancellation of a game that was apparently mere weeks away from its reveal.

Phoenix Labs previously made the free-to-play co-op action game Dauntless in 2019, and the very different but still well-received crafty life sim Fae Farm just last year. According to some laid off developers, the studio was “weeks away from announcing” its next project, which was “abruptly canceled” after three years of work.

In a LinkedInannouncement, the company said it was going through a “significant restructure” after a “long period of evaluating how to navigate our economic environment.” Phoenix Labs will now “focus on our best-in-class live service titles, Dauntless and Fae Farm, and serving their communities” - thus, the decision to scrap other projects. The statement claims this “truly has been the last resort to ensure Phoenix Labs can survive, and thrive in the long term.”

“Heartbroken to say that after three years working at Phoenix Labs with some of the most talented folks I’ve ever met, our project has been abruptly canceled, and I am now looking for some new opportunities,” senior concept artist Charlène Le Scanfftweetedyesterday.

“My project, that I’ve been pouring my heart and soul into for three years, has just been canceled at Phoenix Labs, and myself and the entire incredible team have been fired,” concept artist Nicholas Kole added in anothertweet, “We were weeks away from announcing – I’m just numb and heartbroken, but I’m definitely available for work now.”

Phoenix Labs didn’t specify how many people are losing their jobs, but former principal engineer Kris Morness claimed “about 140” employees were impacted in a follow-uppost.

“Phoenix Labs was acquired by Forte over a year ago. Forte just canceled all projects in development including the game we were announcing in 1 month,” Morness added in a comment.

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Kaan freelances for various websites including Rock Paper Shotgun, Eurogamer, and this one, Gamesradar. He particularly enjoys writing about spooky indies, throwback RPGs, and anything that’s vaguely silly. Also has an English Literature and Film Studies degree that he’ll soon forget.

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