Reflector Entertainment has introduced the cancellation of an in-development undertaking and one other spherical of layoffs following the “failure” of its debut recreation, Unknown 9: Awakening. Studio CEO Herve Hoerdt stated he halted work within the undertaking, which was within the “conceptualization part,” as persevering with growth “wouldn’t have been sustainable for the way forward for the studio.”
“This choice correlates immediately with the failure of the studio’s bold and brave first undertaking [Unknown 9: Awakening], a brand new IP with a wealthy transmedia universe,” Hoerdt wrote in a message posted to LinkedIn. “The efficiency of the discharge did not come close to the corporate expectations, after quite a few timeline changes and investments, each financially and different, and did not warrant any additional exploration within the universe.
“Unfortunately, this additionally impacts back-office workers, bringing the assist groups in step with the one undertaking method the studio will undertake for the upcoming future. Where attainable, workers shall be assigned to this undertaking, based mostly on an current Bandai Namco IP, which is shaping up very properly.”
Reflector beforehand introduced layoffs in November 2024, only a month after the discharge of Unknown 9: Awakening, however stated on the time that the cuts weren’t “pushed by business success or exterior pressures.” Instead, studio basic supervisor Marc-André Séguin stated the layoffs merely mirrored an absence of ample work for the variety of folks the studio had employed. At that point, the studio had “two key manufacturing traces getting into the early phases of growth,” one in all which sounds prefer it was some form of Unknown 9: Awakening followup, based mostly on Hoerdt’s assertion.
Now, although, Hoerdt is pointing the finger immediately at Unknown 9: Awakening as the basis of the issue. Sales figures for the sport have not been launched, nevertheless it actually did not do properly on Steam, the place it sits with simply 49% optimistic person evaluations and a peak concurrent participant rely (through SteamDB) of 285. That’s not the entire story, as Unknown 9: Awakening was additionally launched on consoles, nevertheless it’s certain not a very good signal.
The variety of folks being put out of labor wasn’t specified, however Hoerdt stated affected staff will obtain “ample severance packages,” together with prolonged well being advantages, counselling, and “proactive profession planning assist.” He additionally stated that Bandai Namco, which acquired Reflector in 2020, “will proceed investing on creating Western content material for international audiences.”
