Lord of the Rings Online Developer Hit by Layoffs

Layoffs have hit Lord of the Rings Online developer Turbine. News of the layoffs first emerged this morning on Twitter, and a representative from Warner Bros. Interactive has now confirmed the news, providing IGN with the following statement:

“As part of the continual review of our business operations and fluctuating market conditions, we have had to make reductions in our Turbine workforce. The group continues to remain an integral part of Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment.”

Turbine previously worked on the Asheron’s Call franchise, Dungeons & Dragons Online and Lord of the Rings Online. The studio most recently developed Lord of the Rings Online: Riders of Rohan, which was released last month, and is also said to be working on a next-gen MMO.

IGN wishes the best of luck to anyone affected by today’s news.

Andrew Goldfarb is IGN’s associate news editor. Keep up with pictures of the latest food he’s been eating by following @garfep on Twitter or garfep on IGN.

Source : ign[dot]com

Report: Major Layoffs at Zynga Austin

This morning during Apple's iPad Mini event, Zynga employees began taking to Twitter en masse to report on significant layoffs at the troubled social gaming giant. Zynga has yet to make any official announcement and have not yet responded to our request for comment.

Individuals close to the situation are reporting that Zynga Austin bore the majority of cuts, with more than 100 jobs lost at that location. The entire Zynga Bingo and theVille teams have reported been let go, leaving only teams developing mobile products left at the office.

Gamasutra is also reporting layoffs or perhaps the closure of Zynga Boston and Zynga Chicago. TechCrunch reports that the San Francisco office is not seeing any layoffs today.

More Zynga employees have reported that an all-hands meeting has been scheduled for later this afternoon. A more solid picture of the extend and location of the layoffs is likely to follow.

Today's layoffs are the latest in a growing line of bad news for the social game maker. SuperData Research noted today that Zynga has less active players now than it had two years ago. Social game players are increasingly leaving Facebook in favor of mobile play. Most analysts agree that Zynga has failed to make the mobile transition rapidly enough.

Justin is Editor of IGN Wireless. You can follow him on Twitter at @ErrorJustin and on IGN.

Source : ign[dot]com

Layoffs Hit Fable Developer

Fable developer Lionhead Studios has been hit by layoffs. Microsoft confirmed the news this morning, providing the following statement to IGN:

“Following the completion of Fable: The Journey the Lionhead studio is in the process of beginning work on its next projects. As is common in the games industry, a reduced headcount is needed as projects kick-off and ramp up as development gets underway. At this time a very small number of positions have been identified as at risk of redundancy and the affected employees were notified today. We are working very closely with those people during this difficult time, to help them explore alternative opportunities within Microsoft including new roles at Microsoft Studios which is actively hiring.”

According to Develop, the layoffs represent less than 10% of Lionhead’s overall headcount and will be completed by the end of 2012. Microsoft also expects to add more than 100 new positions in the UK between now and June 2013.

Lionhead most recently released Fable: The Journey, which hit stores earlier this month. The studio was acquired by Microsoft in 2006 and led by founder Peter Molyneux until his departure earlier this year.

IGN wishes the best of luck to anyone affected by today’s news.

Andrew Goldfarb is IGN’s associate news editor. Keep up with pictures of the latest food he’s been eating by following @garfep on Twitter or garfep on IGN.

Source : ign[dot]com

Report: Layoffs Hit PopCap, International Studios Shuttered

New reports suggest that layoffs have hit PopCap Games. According to information originating from the Twitter account of 3D Realms founder George Broussard, approximately 50 employees have been let go from PopCap’s Seattle headquarters, and its international offices in Dublin and Shanghai have been shut down.

The report has been corroborated by VG247, who writes that an anonymous source familiar with the matter says PopCap has been “very quietly” laying off staff for “several months.”

PopCap was acquired by publisher Electronic Arts for $750 million in July 2011. The studio is best known for the release of Peggle, Plants Vs. Zombies and Bejeweled, among others. Just yesterday, PopCap announced that a Plants Vs. Zombies sequel will be released in 2013.

We’ve reached out to both EA and PopCap for confirmation of the layoffs and will update with any comment we receive. IGN wishes the best of luck to anyone affected by the news.

Andrew Goldfarb is IGN’s associate news editor. Keep up with pictures of the latest food he’s been eating by following him on Twitter or IGN.

Source : ign[dot]com