Reflector Leisure Reduces Workforce by 18% Amidst Unknown 9 Development Challenges
Update: The studio states that the employees affected “aren’t assigned to positions that our ongoing projects necessitate.”
Update: Reflector Leisure has announced that 18% of its staff have been let go in a statement on its website.
The studio explained this decision by entering a new phase of development, and the employees affected “aren’t assigned to positions that our ongoing projects necessitate.”
The organization has stated that it is assisting those who were laid off by “providing them with severance packages and access to medical, emotional, and career planning support.”
Original report: Reflector Leisure has reportedly terminated an undisclosed number of employees, just one month after launching its first title, Unknown 9: Awakening.
The layoffs were initially reported by Kotaku journalist Ethan Gach via BlueSky, with GameDeveloper noting that one of the significantly affected employees has also shared news about the layoffs via LinkedIn.
It remains unclear how many employees have been affected, although it is believed that the QA, marketing, art, and narrative teams have been hit. Story and game designer Anna Karina Bermudez and brand manager Manou Deneuvel are among those currently seeking new job opportunities.
Reflector Leisure is the studio behind Unknown 9: Awakening, the first in a series of action-adventure video games set within a transmedia universe. Other Unknown 9 narratives include a podcast audio drama, novels, and a comic book series.
The studio partnered with Bandai Namco for publishing, with the Japanese company…