LucasArts has confirmed to Gamasutra that the Star Wars: The Force Unleashed II developer and publisher has reduced its staff, following media reports of layoffs at its San Francisco headquarters.
After reports at consumer weblog Kotaku that a layoff of a portion of the studio was in place, LucasArts told Gamasutra in an official statement that "LucasArts is reorganizing its teams to better address the needs of the internal studio. "
The company explained: "Unfortunately, this means adjusting staffing. LucasArts continues to be committed to creating a first-class internal studio and to fostering relationships with trusted external partners in order to deliver quality games that amaze and inspire fans."
This announcement comes only a few months after new LucasArts president Paul Meegan joined the company. Meegan replaced previous president Darrell Rodriguez, who resigned, alongside several other key executives, in May of this year.
The privately owned company also lost longtime producer Haden Blackman in July. Blackman was working actively on the upcoming Star Wars: The Force Unleashed II, and said that the departure was to "explore new creative challenges." The game is still currently slated for an October release.
However, LucasArts has gained several new key employees this year, including former Ubisoft Montreal creative director Clint Hocking, and Joe McDonagh, who previously acted as a senior designer for Irrational Games on BioShock -- with Hocking confirmed to be acting as creative director over an unannounced project at the firm.
Smooth landings to those affected. I always wonder when catastrophic events like this happen, who in upper management will fall on their sword with their laid off troops. Isn't it the job of the Studio Manager and President to look after their team and find new projects for their employees. If they can't, then it speaks to a core competency failure that should have a repercussion both down and UP the company.
Yeah my condolences to those who lost their jobs, It seems like a studio is being closed down or performing layoffs every week lately. I hope everyone is able to find a New job though, It seems like there is lost of talent out there right now just waiting to be collected and make something incredible.
How many presidents and then layoffs has this cursed company gone through? And for what? Middling reviews on licensed product getting barely sustainable sales? C'mon, you gotta be kidding me. Is there anyone there that's survived layoff after layoff? If there is, you think they might be part of the hire-and-fire cycles that plague the company's history?
Lucas, sell this company off or dissolve it altogether and start from scratch. Geezus.
Does the employment history of this place hold any appeal for anyone seeking a career in the industry? Wow. Just wow.
(howard? great nick! a great final boss that was sadly downgraded in the KOF franchise)
when you're unemployed, specially if you need a job to sustain yourself, you really don't look that much of the past enployment history...of course it matters and you can add this detail to make your decision, but sometimes you have to take what you can!!! (and then, after you sign your contract you get calls from sveral other places, but that's another story!!!)
having survived a number of layoffs and also being a part of a number of them myself, I can honestly say it's becoming more common. Why? generally speaking you have to blame the incompetence of the people running the ship.. if you hire well, then you produce good product, and when you produce good product, you make money and you don't need to wipe out a team to save your skin. That being said.. I'm starting to see a trend in this economy where companies are dropping a team at the end or right before a product ships simply to make more money from a triple "A" product (red dead....) if you're claiming layoffs to kill "dead weight" it begs the question, why did you hire a large group of them in the first place?! again... when I hear large layoffs it tend to point to incompetence of management (and they always seem to keep their jobs in a layoff) You find that top tier talent will get frustrated with incompetent management and leave the company, and because the management is incompetent they'll "war promote" mediocre talent to replace that star leader.. then anyone below that guy will drive away anyone else that mattered because that guy shouldn't be leading them in the first place and incompetent companies will hire more mediocre talent to finish a product and cut loses when those guys bail.. but in the end you still have to blame the decision makers.
*future perspective employees tightly clutching their resumes* "I'll NEVER join you!!!" *Lucasarts retorts* "Search your feelings - you KNOW this to be true....it is....your...deesssssssstiny" LOL
How many presidents and then layoffs has this cursed company gone through? And for what? Middling reviews on licensed product getting barely sustainable sales? C'mon, you gotta be kidding me. Is there anyone there that's survived layoff after layoff? If there is, you think they might be part of the hire-and-fire cycles that plague the company's history?
Lucas, sell this company off or dissolve it altogether and start from scratch. Geezus.
Does the employment history of this place hold any appeal for anyone seeking a career in the industry? Wow. Just wow.
(howard? great nick! a great final boss that was sadly downgraded in the KOF franchise)
when you're unemployed, specially if you need a job to sustain yourself, you really don't look that much of the past enployment history...of course it matters and you can add this detail to make your decision, but sometimes you have to take what you can!!! (and then, after you sign your contract you get calls from sveral other places, but that's another story!!!)
Best of luck to anyone affected.