Kerbal House Program 2 Studio Apparently Shuttered Amid Layoffs, Take-Two Responds [Update]

Intercept Video games is among the many many casualties of Take-Two Interactive’s layoffs, as its father or mother firm is shedding 70 individuals from the developer behind the Kerbal House Program 2.

As reported by GameDeveloper.com, a Employee Adjustment and Retraining Notification (WARN) discover was filed in Washington state this previous Monday, revealing that Take-Two Interactive was shedding 70 employees based mostly in Seattle as a part of a closure. Although the WARN discover lists Take-Two particularly, the developer impacted in query seems to be Intercept Video games, a studio based mostly in Seattle.

Intercept Video games didn’t instantly reply to IGN’s request for remark, although the studio’s web site did have three job postings based mostly in Seattle.

In an announcement despatched to IGN, a Take-Two spokesperson didn’t explicitly affirm Intercept Video games’ closure, reiterating that it was not “offering further particulars” on its plans to cut back workers throughout all its studios. Nevertheless, the corporate revealed that the writer, Non-public Division, will present post-launch assist for Kerbal House Program 2, because the developer is seemingly shuttered.

You possibly can learn the assertion from Take-Two Interactive beneath.

On April sixteenth, Take-Two introduced a value discount program to establish efficiencies throughout its enterprise and to reinforce the Firm’s margin profile, whereas nonetheless investing for progress. As a part of these efforts, the Firm is rationalizing its pipeline and eliminating a number of initiatives in improvement and streamlining its organizational construction, which can eradicate headcount and scale back future hiring wants. The Firm just isn’t offering further particulars on this program.

On April 18th Non-public Division efficiently launched Moon Studio’s No Relaxation for the Depraved. The label continues to make updates to Kerbal House Program 2 and plans to launch Wētā Workshop Sport Studio’s Tales of the Shire: A The Lord of the Rings Sport within the second half of 2024.

Bloomberg’s Jason Schreier has since confirmed that Intercept Video games in addition to Roll7, the studio behind OlliOlli World, will likely be closed.

Take-Two Interactive introduced final month that it was shedding round 5 %, or 579 employees, whereas canceling a number of initiatives. The announcement got here months prior when CEO Strauss Zelnick claimed the corporate had “no plans” to put off anybody however did reveal that it was endeavor a value discount plan.

Kerbal House Program 2 was launched over a yr in the past in early entry. A sequel to 2015’s Kerbal House Program, the sequel has been met with combined reception from critics and gamers, with some at launch criticizing poor efficiency and bugs as its most important drawbacks.

The online game trade has been racked with layoffs, with EA, PlayStation, and Xbox amongst these affected. You possibly can learn our full report right here.

Taylor is a Reporter at IGN. You possibly can observe her on Twitter @TayNixster.