By Game Developer News Desk Published September 17, 2026 Executive Overview In a devastating blow to the independent game development community, Heart Machine—the critically acclaimed studio behind Hyper Light Drifter and Solar Ash—has been forced to lay off nearly its entire workforce. The catastrophic downsizing comes on the heels of an unnamed publisher abruptly pulling…
By Chris Kerr, Senior Editor, News, GameDeveloper.com September 14, 2026 Executive Overview The ongoing financial crisis within the global video game industry has claimed another notable victim. KO_OP—the acclaimed, worker-run independent development studio recognized for narrative-driven titles such as Goodbye Volcano High and the recently launched multiplayer life simulator Young Suns—has announced the layoff of…
By Chris Kerr Senior Editor, News, GameDeveloper.com August 10, 2026 Executive Overview The video game journalism landscape has been struck by yet another severe blow. In a sweeping corporate maneuver, Restart—the retail-backed digital video game publication supported by American retail giant Walmart and marketing outfit Moonrock—has laid off its entire editorial staff. The abrupt operational…
