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Kabam kickstarts layoffs as company shifts towards mobile development

But 200 new employees inbound

Kabam kickstarts layoffs as company shifts towards mobile development
Online games specialist Kabam has laid off what the firm claims is a "small number of employees" in order to support the developer's wider shift towards mobile games development.

The layoffs come despite the fact the studio has enjoyed impressive growth of late, with 2013 revenue likely to jump by 66 percent to $300 million.

Nevertheless, a portion of employees are to be culled to enable a re-tooled team to fully focus on improving the company's standing on smartphones.

Uneasy decision

Kabam's VP of corporate communications, Steve Swasey commented that the company "tried to find positions for everyone effected" and that it was "able to do that with some, but not with others". 

Swasey points out that it's all strictly business, however, as "the big growth for Kabam is in the mobile games, and that's where we're focusing."

"There are some positions we're not able to move over, so we had to say goodbye to some folks," he concluded.

Indeed, Kabam isn't looking to downsize, but rather shift its talent base towards mobile. The company has confirmed it's now looking to add roughly 200 new staff members to its team, with the firm's employee count expected to rise above 900 by the end of the year.

[source: GamesIndustry.biz]

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