Video game publisher Humble Games responded to rumors that the studio reportedly laid off its entire staff, saying that it was not true and that it was in the middle of restructuring its operations.
The rumors began after former Humble Games employees started to tell the public that they had been let go along with their whole team. These include a former senior quality assurance analyst and a producer.
Humble Games' Mass Layoffs
The video game publisher had previously undergone two rounds of layoffs; the first was in April 2022 and the second was in November 2023.
Humble Games confirmed in a statement that the layoffs will not impact Humble Bundle, which is a separate entity but also owned by IGN Entertainment.
Despite the situation, Humble Games said that ongoing and upcoming games it is responsible for will still move ahead and be published by the company.
It is the publisher of many notable indie titles, such as Stray Gods, Bo: of the Teal Lotus, Ikenfell, and many more, according to GameSpot.
Humble Games is the publishing arm of Humble Bundle, a digital storefront, and their owner, IGN Entertainment, bought several video game websites earlier this year. These include Eurogamer, Rock Paper Shotgun, VG247, GamesIndustry.biz, and Dicebreaker.
The publisher also said that the restructuring operations it is conducting involved a lot of deliberation and careful thought. It said that the goal was to ensure the stability and support of its developers and ongoing projects.
Amid Restructuring Operations
The company also noted that it was "acutely aware" of the significant impact of its decision to lay off workers, adding that it empathizes with those who were affected.
It added that its team supported the launch of its games since it started publishing in 2017, said GameDeveloper.
When it started out as a publisher, Humble Games worked on titles such as A Hat in Time and Aegis Defenders. Since then, it has had a hand in publishing critical and commercial powerhouses such as Slay the Spire, Unpacking, and Signalis.
A former producer, Kenny Schwarz, said that he received a notification that he was being laid off, similar to many employees of Humble Games.
He added that he at least still considered his experience at the studio amazing as he was able to work with so many wonderful and talented individuals.
The studio's statement also said that it was now prioritizing supporting its development partners and assisting former team members. It added that it wants to make the transition as smooth as possible for everyone who is involved, according to GamesRadar.
