Funcom announces staff layoffs and closure of The Outsiders studio as part of restructuring.
Funcom owns Dune: Awakening
Staff layoffs confirmed
The Outsiders studio closing
Transition to long-term operations
David Goldfarb comments on changes
Funcom unable to clarify impact
Funcom, the owner of the Dune: Awakening game, is laying off staff and shutting down the developer The Outsiders as it restructures operations.
Company Success with Dune: Awakening
Record-breaking launch: Dune: Awakening sold over 1 million copies in two weeks, making it Funcom’s fastest-selling game ever.[1][2]
Player engagement: Peak concurrent players reached nearly 190,000 shortly after release.[3]
Commercial milestone: The game achieved sales that took Conan Exiles a full year to reach in just 18 days since launch.[2][1]
Funcom Shuts Down Studio Restructuring
Shift in strategy: Funcom announced it is moving from development to long-term live operations to support ongoing content updates and a console launch scheduled for 2026.[4][5]
Impact on staff: The company has initiated layoffs across various projects, affecting multiple studios, including its internal team behind Metal: Hellsinger.[6][7][8]
Studio closure: The Outsiders, responsible for Metal: Hellsinger, with a history of a decade, will close its doors.[7][9][6]
Statements and Future Plans
Official comments: Funcom has not disclosed exact workforce numbers but emphasizes its commitment to support affected employees through career counseling and new opportunities.[4]
Long-term vision: The company aims to expand Dune: Awakening for consoles and roll out regular content updates, such as new maps and endgame improvements, to sustain its success.[5][10]
Despite a record-breaking launch, Funcom is restructuring to prioritize long-term live services for Dune: Awakening and other titles. This has led to staff layoffs and the closure of The Outsiders studio, reflecting broader industry challenges where success does not always prevent layoffs or closures.[11][12][8]
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