Dundee-based independent developer Outplay Entertainment has plans to axe between 20 to 30 jobs after entering a collective consultation process.
The company currently employs 190 staff between its Dundee office and Derby subsidiary EightPixelsSquare. Should the redundancies occur it would represent a loss of between 10 to 16 per cent of its total workforce. All layoffs are expected to be from the Scotland office.
UK firms are required to go through a collective consultation process with employees when there are proposals to lay off 20 or more staff. New UK trade union Games Workers Unite UK is not involved in the talks with Outplay.
Narrowed focus
Speaking to PocketGamer.biz, Outplay CEO Douglas Hare said he wanted to narrow the company’s focus on games “have the most opportunity for success in 2019 and beyond”. It was suggested that market shifts and weaker than expected sales were also drivers behind the decision.
The studio will reduce live ops support for some of its titles and reduce active development of new content and features for those. It aims to continue R&D efforts in areas such as its new hyper-casual initiative.
“In order to ensure the greatest success in 2019 and beyond, Outplay is refining and focusing its product investment on a smaller number of its highest-potential live titles,” said Hare.
“This more focused strategy requires a number of changes to our organisational structure, and as such, we are entering into a collective consultation process with the team members who are potentially affected.
“Our team is at the heart of our business and this decision has not been taken lightly but it is essential for Outplay to realise its full potential.”
Back in late 2017 Outplay claimed the title of Scotland’s fastest growing tech company, with revenues growing by 1,904 per cent since 2013. The firm had a rebranding in 2018 to position itself as “uplifting, approachable and authentic”.
The developer’s portfolio of games includes Crafty Candy, Mystery Match, Castle Creeps, Alien Creeps and more.
