Media reports are saying that as many as five game studios owned by Activision have been hit by closures and layoffs.
Gamasutra reports that Luxoflux, Radical Entertainment and Neversoft have been affected. The news outlet says LA-based Luxoflux has been shut down. The studio’s most recent games have been licensed console fare based on Kung-Fu Panda and Transformers. Radical Entertainment, the Vancouver, Canada based studio behind the open-world game Prototype, is reported to have had as much as 50 percent of its staff laid off. LA-based Neversoft, developers of Tony Hawk and Guitar Hero games, is said to be affected by an unspecified number of layoffs. Gamasutra posted a carefully crafted statement from Activision that confirms the layoffs only by saying we are realigning our resources to better reflect our slate and marketing opportunities. The outlet has been updating its reporting throughout the day. Read more at Gamasutra.
Elsewhere, Kotaku reports on two additional studios that are affected. The outlet says Guitar Hero creator Red Octane has had an unspecified number of staff let go, and Bay Area studio Underground Development, makers of Guitar Hero: Van Halen, has been shut down entirely. Read more at Kotaku.
