UK studio Codemasters, best known for the Grid and Dirt racing franchises, is set for a round of layoffs focused on the company’s marketing and IT departments, according to reports.
Eurogamer claims sources close to UK studio Codemasters informed them that around 50 jobs are being reviewed, with around 30 of those to be affected.
The news comes after a decidedly mixed reception for the company’s previous title, F12014. I played it for review, and it felt like a real “will this do?” effort, far from the studio’s usual levels of competence. Without a true next-gen showcase last year (F12014 was only available on PC and last-gen consoles, as was the superior Grid Autosport), it appears that the company has been left spinning its wheels while direct competitors make use of the marketing power of enhanced graphics tech and next-gen sheen.
“As Codemasters continues its programme of strategic realignment in line with market changes, the company has reviewed its current structures to focus on areas of increased importance and decrease resources in areas where work requirements have been reduced,” a company spokesman told Eurogamer.
Though the source claims that artists and designers are at risk of layoffs alongside support staff, Codemasters claims that the process currently “does not affect the on-going production of titles in development and no projects have been cancelled as a result of the proposal.”
It might be a bit early to start the doom and gloom just yet. There’s every chance the stupio will blow us away with a really strong, innovative racer when F12015 and the next Dirt game drop later this year, but one thing is for sure; a lot will be riding on those two games.
