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Angry Birds Go! developer Exient cuts 60% of its staff at Leamington Spa studio

Can only afford to develop one new game and maintain its Angry Birds titles

Angry Birds Go! developer Exient cuts 60% of its staff at Leamington Spa studio

Oxford-based game developer Exient has let go of 60% of its staff at its Leamington Spa studio due to financial concerns at the company.

The studio is best known for developing Angry Birds spin-offs Angry Birds Go! and Angry Birds Transformers. It is currently developing a game based on Strictly Come Dancing in partnership with the BBC.

It is unknown exactly how many jobs have been affected by the cuts. Initial reports suggested 80% of the staff had been laid off, though a statement given to GamesIndustry.biz confirmed the studio only let go of 60% of its employees in March 2017.

Overstaffed, underfunded

"The reason is simple: we were overstaffed for the work that we had on the books, so an adjustment in staffing levels was required to correct the operation," said CEO Dave Hawkins.

"Today, the Leamington studio develops and services Strictly Come Dancing [released as Dancing with the Stars in the US], Angry Birds Transformers and Angry Birds Go!."

Angry Birds Go! proved hugely popular for Rovio and Exient, scoring over 100 million downloads a year after it first launched. It was said to "appeal to the inner child inside everyone".


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Ric is the Editor of PocketGamer.biz, having started out as a Staff Writer on the site back in 2015. He received an honourable mention in both the MCV and Develop 30 Under 30 lists in 2016 and refuses to let anyone forget about it.