Gamasutra: The Art & Business of Making Gamesspacer
View All     RSS
August 10, 2016
arrowPress Releases
August 10, 2016
PR Newswire
View All






If you enjoy reading this site, you might also want to check out these UBM Tech sites:


RockYou, the company that rescues games from other publishers, sees layoffs
RockYou, the company that rescues games from other publishers, sees layoffs
December 2, 2015 | By Christian Nutt




RockYou made the news last year for its innovative plan to rescue social and mobile games that other publishers didn't want anymore -- but which had healthy audiences -- and keep them alive, thus capturing ad revenue and ensuring their continued development. 

Today, however, we have confirmation directly from the company's CEO, Lisa Marino, of a layoff at the San Francisco-based studio.

"23 people were impacted, about 10 percent of our U.S. workforce. We also initiated other cost-cutting initiatives, as expenses were growing more quickly than was healthy for the business so we adjusted. Revenue is at a record high for Q4 and 2015 revenue is 2x 2014's, but given our model, expense discipline and profitability metrics are most important," Marino said via email.

The layoffs first came to light via posts by affected staffers on social media yesterday. 

The company's website says that its network of games -- some original to RockYou, and some salvaged -- has a global audience of 75 million players.

"As more and more gaming companies are moving off .coms and/or Facebook and on to mobile or other platforms, many titles are being sunsetted, and many very loyal players are being left behind," Marino told Gamasutra last year, describing the company's strategy of rescuing other publishers' games -- which she compared to cable networks picking up network TV shows for reruns.

Not long after the company announced its "rerun" strategy, RockYou was able to net $10 million in funding.



Related Jobs

Sony PlayStation
Sony PlayStation — San Mateo, California, United States
[08.09.16]

Senior Environment Artist
Insomniac Games
Insomniac Games — Durham, North Carolina, United States
[08.09.16]

Character TD
Insomniac Games
Insomniac Games — Durham, North Carolina, United States
[08.09.16]

Animator
Insomniac Games
Insomniac Games — Durham, North Carolina, United States
[08.09.16]

FX Artist









Loading Comments

loader image