The Kerbal Space Program 2 producer has confirmed mass layoffs among developer teams at Intercept Games following ambiguous statements from Take-Two Interactive’s CEO, Strauss Zelnick. Despite denial of studio closures by Zelnick, Senior Design Manager Quinn Duffy stated on LinkedIn that Intercept’s team would be laid off as of June 28, praising his colleagues and indicating his own impending departure. Other gaming studios such as Roll7 are reportedly facing similar closures in line with Take-Two’s decision to ‘rationalize’ its workforce, with attempts to clarify Zelnick’s remarks proving futile.
Observers have drawn comparisons with Take-Two’s approach to closing studios such as 2K Marin in 2013, noting a refusal to officially acknowledge such actions. This stance by the company has led some to speculate that the reluctance to confirm closures explicitly could be due to legal or tax considerations during the ongoing closure process. The lack of transparency in terms of corporate language has left employees and industry watchers in a state of uncertainty.
While the possibility of studios being maintained as dormant assets rather than being officially closed has been suggested, the true rationale behind Take-Two’s decisions remains unclear. The company’s pattern of internal restructuring or “auto-cannibalising” without clear communication about the process continues to generate industry speculation and concern.
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