By Hyper Light Heart Breaker
Heart Machine, the skilled studio behind 2016 indie treasure Hyper Light Drifter and the visually stunning Solar Ash, has announced that it is implementing an unspecified number of layoffs.
The developer initiated its ongoing endeavor, Hyper Light Breaker, into early access on PC at the beginning of the year. However, the successor to Hyper Light Drifter has faced challenges in sustaining momentum, plagued by mixed player feedback and a general lack of enthusiasm.
Consequently, the development of Hyper Light Breaker will soon reach its conclusion. This essentially represents the studio minimizing its losses; while not abandoning the game entirely, it is finishing up its work.
In a statement shared with Game Developer, Heart Machine assures that it will endeavor to “deliver something significant and as polished and complete as we can under the current circumstances”.
The intention seems to be to launch the game in January. However, it remains uncertain if this includes a release on additional platforms, such as PS5.
Previously, the game was perceived as a means for the studio to regain stability following initial layoffs in November 2024. Unfortunately, this plan has not come to fruition.
Heart Machine’s official remarks on the situation state:
“As we conclude our efforts on Hyper Light Breaker, we’ve had to make the challenging choice to part ways with several talented team members. This was not the route we wished to take, but rather the only option available considering the conditions.
While this route will involve a wrap-up of the project, it mirrors broader influences outside our control, including changes in funding, corporate consolidation, and the unpredictable environment that many small studios like ours are navigating today.”
We genuinely wish the best for those affected by these layoffs.
It’s worth noting that Heart Machine has another project currently in development; Possessor(s) is a 2D action title slated for release on PS5 this November. Let’s hope it achieves success.
What are your thoughts on this? Are you a supporter of Hyper Light Drifter, Solar Ash, or Hyper Light Breaker? Don’t hesitate to chime in the comments section below.
[source gamedeveloper.com]
Robert (or Rob if you’re short on time) is an associate editor of Push Square, and has been an admirer of PlayStation since the 90s, when Tekken 2 introduced him to the remarkable world of video games. He still approaches his fighting games with seriousness, but RPGs are his genuine enthusiasm. The Witcher, Persona, Dragon Quest, Mass Effect, Final Fantasy, Trails, Tales — he’s engaged with them all. Some might say a little too much.