Niantic Lays Off 230 Workers, Shutting Down LA Studio

Pokémon GO developer Niantic has closed it’s LA Studio, leading to 230 job losses. CEO John Hanke despatched an electronic mail to his staff stating, “I’ve made the choice to slender our focus for cell sport investments. Particularly, this implies we will probably be closing our LA studio, decreasing our sport platform staff, and making further reductions throughout the corporate… This implies we’re shedding round 230 Niantics.”

Along with this, NBA All-World will shut, and manufacturing will stop for Marvel: World of Heroes as Niantic desires to proceed to help Pokémon Go. “The highest precedence is to maintain Pokémon GO wholesome and rising as a without end sport, whereas we made some changes to the Pokémon GO staff, our funding within the product and staff continues to develop.” mentioned Hanke.

Pokémon GO has been extensively profitable since its 2016 launch, but it surely has has been concerned with quite a few neighborhood controversies, considered one of which concerned reverting an expanded spawn radius that was favored by gamers. Different Niantic tasks, from Harry Potter to Pikmin Bloom, haven’t reached an identical quantity of recognition.

Apart from Pokémon GO, Niantic will proceed to work on Pikmin Bloom, Peridot, and the upcoming Monster Hunter Now. Additionally it is constructing in the direction of growing combined actuality gadgets and AR glasses.

Supply: GamesIndustry.biz