People Can Fly Announces Layoffs and Cancels 2 Projects

Summary

People Can Fly has canceled Project Gemini due to communication issues with the game's publisher.
Project Bifrost has also been axed after a recent financial analysis of People Can Fly revealed a shortage of funds and resources to continue the game's development.
Due to these cancelations, People Can Fly has undergone a "significant" regrouping that includes layoffs.

Polish game developer People Can Fly has confirmed the cancelation of two projects and announced plans to substantially scale down its teams. The Warsaw-based studio cited communication breakdowns with publishers and financial pressures as the cause of the decision, marking People Can Fly's second round of layoffs in just under six months.

While People Can Fly is behind well-regarded shooters like Bulletstorm and Outriders and is working on various projects behind the scenes, the studio has been struggling with a series of setbacks in recent memory. Back in April 2024, People Can Fly canceled Project Dagger - a co-op action RPG in development for several years - after the studio failed to find a new publishing partner following its split from Take-Two Interactive in 2022. Then, over 120 People Can Fly staffers were let go in December 2024, alongside Project Victoria being suspended and Project Bifrost downsized.

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By Priye Rai

It appears the December job cuts did little to ease People Can Fly's financial woes, as CEO Sebastian Wojciechowski announced more layoffs and downsizing for the studio in a recent Twitter post. As per Wojciechowski, People Can Fly has shelved Project Gemini due to the publisher's failure to provide a new content rider agreement and general lack of communication about the game's future, making it economically unfeasible to continue development. Wojciechowski did not explicitly name the publisher overseeing Project Gemini, but reports suggest that it was Square Enix.

Outriders Developer People Can Fly Sees Scaled-Down Headcount After Two Project Cancelations

In addition to Project Gemini, People Can Fly's Project Bifrost won't see the light of day either. Supposedly a VR game, Project Bifrost was canceled after an internal analysis of People Can Fly's financials revealed an inability to secure the necessary funding and resources to keep its development going. Wojciechowski emphasized in his note that these cancelations necessitate a major regrouping at People Can Fly, which unfortunately includes headcount reductions - a precise number for which was not specified. The CEO expressed deep regret over the situation, thanking those affected for their contributions.

Layoffs are always disheartening to learn about, even more so in recent months due to companies like Microsoft, Playtonic, EA, Eidos Montreal, and more axing thousands of jobs cumulatively. People Can Fly's string of project cancelations is a worrying trend for the studio, but there are some things to look forward to. As it stands, People Can Fly is co-developing Gears of War: E-Day with Microsoft-owned studio The Coalition, and also teamed up with Sony a few months ago to work on Project Delta - a new game based on an undisclosed PlayStation IP.

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