The provided text describes the situation of employees at a company called “Aheartfulofgames” who are facing job losses. here’s a breakdown of the key points:
Job Losses: 28 people are expected to lose their jobs due to the closure of Aheartfulofgames.
Negotiations Failed: Employees have been in negotiations with their parent company, Outright, to find alternatives to closure. They proposed a relocation plan and partial layoffs, but these were rejected.
Outright’s Stance: Employees believe Outright is only willing to negotiate severance packages and is not interested in other solutions.
Employee Outlook on Competitiveness: Employees feel the company’s claim of being “uncompetitive” is disingenuous. They point to their successful work on “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles” as evidence of their competitiveness. They believe the company is now unwilling to assign them new projects, regardless of size, which they see as a pretext for closure.
Motivation for Closure: Employees suspect the decision to close the studio was driven by a desire to maximize profits for management and investors, rather than genuine financial necessity. They feel its a purely financial decision focused on increasing profit margins.
Impact on the Industry: Employees believe this type of closure is detrimental to the broader game industry and its creative landscape. Emotional Toll: The situation has been emotionally taxing for the employees, who valued their team, good working conditions, and the possibility for creative input in their work. They are saddened by the loss of a well-functioning studio.
Appeasing Investors: One source suggests the closure is a cynical move to satisfy investors who may have had higher profit expectations from the game industry, even though the company is not losing money but rather “gaining less.”
* Outright Games Contacted: Game Developer has reached out to Outright Games for a comment.
