Playtonic, known for creating the beloved Yooka-Laylee franchise, has revealed plans to reduce its workforce, marking another challenge in the evolving gaming industry landscape. While the developer has not shared the exact number of employees impacted, the layoffs affect teams across production, art, game design, narrative, and UI/UX.
A LinkedIn update from Playtonic’s brand manager, Anni Valkama, confirmed that the cuts involve a diverse group of staff members. Though Playtonic’s public profile lists about 50 employees, the actual team size may be larger due to its recent growth as a publisher and preparations for the upcoming release of Yooka-Replaylee.
This kind of staff reduction after ramping up for a new project is a common industry practice, especially as studios face funding pressures and fluctuating market demands. Whether this applies specifically to Playtonic’s current situation remains uncertain without further details.
The Yooka-Laylee series first gained attention through its successful 2015 Kickstarter campaign, offering a spiritual successor to classic Rare platformers like Banjo-Kazooie. Founded by former Rare developers, Playtonic continues to produce games with a similar nostalgic appeal under its publishing label Playtonic Friends, supporting titles such as Lil Gator Game and Demon Turf.
As the company navigates these changes, fans will be watching closely for the release of Yooka-Replaylee and how Playtonic adapts to the shifting tides of game development.