Nightingale Studio Inflexion Closes UK Division, Lays Off Staff | MMORPG.com

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Nightingale Studio Inflexion Closes UK Division, Lays Off Staff | MMORPG.com

Inflexion Games, the studio behind Nightingale, has shut down its UK division in the latest game industry layoffs. 

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Angrakhan

Those numbers are actually right in line with other industries. While layoffs are terrible whenever they happen this isn't something specific to gaming dying or something.

https://www.challengergray.com/blog/job-cuts-announced-by-us-based-companies-surge-in-august-2024-hiring-falls-to-lowest-ytd-since-challenger-began-tracking-in-2005/

riningear

Angrakhan said:

Those numbers are actually right in line with other industries. While layoffs are terrible whenever they happen this isn't something specific to gaming dying or something.



https://www.challengergray.com/blog/job-cuts-announced-by-us-based-companies-surge-in-august-2024-hiring-falls-to-lowest-ytd-since-challenger-began-tracking-in-2005/

We are all so cooked, man. 

Sovrath

I find that disturbing because they haven't even launched their game. It's unfinished. I really feel that these studios just gamble with the hopes they'll have enough money but fully accept that things might go "awry" and that's it.

Valentina

Sovrath said:

I find that disturbing because they haven't even launched their game. It's unfinished. I really feel that these studios just gamble with the hopes they'll have enough money but fully accept that things might go "awry" and that's it.

based on the post from one of the people affected, their work had basically been completed and what they were doing had been moved in-house to the main studio, unfortunately making them redundant. (her words)

Scot

Valentina said:

Sovrath said:

I find that disturbing because they haven't even launched their game. It's unfinished. I really feel that these studios just gamble with the hopes they'll have enough money but fully accept that things might go "awry" and that's it.

based on the post from one of the people affected, their work had basically been completed and what they were doing had been moved in-house to the main studio, unfortunately making them redundant. (her words)

Well I think the truth of that will be shown when and if Nightingale comes out of early access and at least does 'alright'. If not I think this once again reflects on how the gaming industry is taking a downturn and maybe there has been too much gambling on timely success.

Sovrath

Valentina said:

Sovrath said:

I find that disturbing because they haven't even launched their game. It's unfinished. I really feel that these studios just gamble with the hopes they'll have enough money but fully accept that things might go "awry" and that's it.

based on the post from one of the people affected, their work had basically been completed and what they were doing had been moved in-house to the main studio, unfortunately making them redundant. (her words)

Ah ok so maybe it was expected 

Elidien_ga

Valentina said:

Sovrath said:

I find that disturbing because they haven't even launched their game. It's unfinished. I really feel that these studios just gamble with the hopes they'll have enough money but fully accept that things might go "awry" and that's it.

based on the post from one of the people affected, their work had basically been completed and what they were doing had been moved in-house to the main studio, unfortunately making them redundant. (her words)

I was thinking this might be the case. I am still concerned for the game. Early access has been rough and the Steam numbers are not good at all. It saw a increase with the newest big patch but it has a way to go to find its footing.

Lobotomist

Elidien_ga said:

Valentina said:

Sovrath said:

I find that disturbing because they haven't even launched their game. It's unfinished. I really feel that these studios just gamble with the hopes they'll have enough money but fully accept that things might go "awry" and that's it.

based on the post from one of the people affected, their work had basically been completed and what they were doing had been moved in-house to the main studio, unfortunately making them redundant. (her words)

I was thinking this might be the case. I am still concerned for the game. Early access has been rough and the Steam numbers are not good at all. It saw a increase with the newest big patch but it has a way to go to find its footing.

Yea, I made big mistake in buying it at EA launch.

What started happening - especially this year, is that companies release game to EA as some kind of test, if the game warrants continuation of development.

If the game gets mixed reviews, and they dont manage to get it to positive - they kind of launch as minimum viable product, and say "there its done"

I think 100% this is going to be future of Nightingale

Valentina

There's not really any indication that the game's not going to continue being developed, as the roles that were lost in this were moved to the main studio before the layoffs. Aaryn Flynn issued a statement via discord:

"Yes, it's true that we've lost some folks recently, as we're working through changes to the overall shape and size of our studio. These are wonderful developers who have contributed greatly to Nightingale, and they'll be missed. I can assure you that we have every intention of continuing to improve and grow Nightingale, even as we work through these painful but important changes."


I believe the size and scope of the studio may have changed, and perhaps this will impact how much they update the game beyond 1.0, but I think the game will for sure make it past the finish line at minimum, and at most it may end up having to have some sort of live-service element to continue it's development past 1.0 if they don't have to move off it entirely and do something new. Either way, we have examples of early access games hitting rock bottom and coming out alright in the end, Wayfinder being one such example

Dattelis

Definitely unfortunate news. I had high hopes for the entire project when it got announced and was hoping they could make some pretty big improvements in EA, but now I'm not so sure.

Elidien_ga

I think the game will continue and launch but I do not think it will be a huge hit. It will be interesting to see the trend of games that launch into EA too early and recover enough to launch and how it goes. The biggest issue for the game IMHO is performance. It runs horribly and looks bad whereas I can run other games much better with even better graphics. 

Elidien_ga

Update: It appears the layoffs keep coming. I first saw it on social media but this was posted earlier today. It does confirm that Early Access did not go well as many of us speculated. 

https://www.gamesindustry.biz/dozens-of-staff-laid-off-at-inflexion-as-part-of-restructuring