Management at Eurocom confirms fewer than 50 staff remain at UK developer following restructuring; "steep decline" in console game demand cited as reason.
United Kingdom-based developer Eurocom has enacted a significant round of layoffs following shipping 007 Legends last month. Studio director Hugh Binns confirmed to GamesIndustry International that a majority of the company's 200 staff have been let go.
"Eurocom are undertaking a restructuring which I regret to say has meant we've made the majority of our workforce redundant today," reads a line from the statement. "This includes many very experienced, talented and highly skilled employees, and we'd like to thank them all for your hard work and efforts."
Binns added that the "steep decline in demand" for console games led to the downsizing, as well as the studio's shift towards mobile game development moving forward.
"We've fought to try and save as many jobs as possible, but the steep decline in demand for console games, culminating in a number of console projects falling through in the last week, left us with no option," Binns added. "Eurocom has retained a core staff of just under 50 employees and will be focusing mainly on mobile opportunities moving forward."
Eurocom was established in Derby in 1988. It has created dozens of games, with its most recent offerings including James Bond games 007 Legends and GoldenEye 007: Reloaded, as well as Harry Potter for Kinect, Disney Universe, and Rio.
Eddie Makuch (Mack-ooh) is a News Editor at GameSpot. He works out of the company's Boston office in Somerville, Mass., and loves extra chunky peanut butter.
Wow. Another studio laying off its employees after releasing a game that sold poorly and deciding to focus on mobile games. The stakes seem to be much higher this gen than last gen. It only takes one or two bad games before the layoffs or, even worse, a studio closure, occur.
Um, maybe it's because their last game sucked and came out at the wrong time. Why would they release this against their own CoD?
You can thank piracy, guys. Remember that when you're in line for unemployment and tempted to download some ripped games...
1 Like @tgwolf No one wanted the last 3-4 of their games, by paying for them OR for free... piracy didn't kill this company; poor games did.
While I naturally disagree with their decline for demand statement I do feel bad about this. Eurocom has been around quite a long time and proved they could make pretty good games....they just didn't most of the time.
2 Like Hmmmm...... *Takes out Red Pen*
"The Steep Decline In The Demand For OUR Console Game Led To The Downsizing."
There, Fixed It For Him. :)
Yes please F|_|ck off to mobile. Your games are were awful. Mobile devices are the perfect platforms for shallow, repetitive garbage. Console games are admittedly not a playground for everyone anymore. If you want people to buy a $60, it has to be............ Good. I know I know, its shocking..... the horror, the horror.
hurrrrrr durrrrrrrrrrrrrr Mobile gaming is the future
I still find it hilarious they try to pin its failure on the decline in demand for console gaming rather than the fact that this game was absolutely atrocious
If they are not working on a game why keep them around? To pay wages, benefits and such? Cheaper for the company to just lay off staff and hire back when the company starts a new project.
3 Like No "steep decline" for good games like Sleeping Dogs. Original IP, well recieved (except by the trolling cretins at quarter to 3). Disyhonoured is also another new IP that has done well - good reviews, good sales.
They were an awful development house with a legacy of terrible games.
3 Like i wouldn't say steep decline in console whatever...more like steep decline in quality...that game was awful
5 Like Nahhhh. Its cause your games suck and have no soul about them. Nice comp out on blaming the demand for console games (after Cod and Halo sell freakishly well...)
Wow November has been quite the month for gaming. Ups and downs.
Did anyone here ACTUALLY play Legends? Was it really as bad as everyone says it is??
1 Like @Rat_King I own it, and I'm really enjoying it. The multiplayer IS uninspired, but isn't nearly as cheap as CoD's. The single player is the best though, but you need to be a Bond fan to understand it and appreciate it to the fullest. It's a 7.5/10 game.
3 Like Anyone remember a game called Sphinx and the Cursed Mummy that came out last gen? It was a solid original IP. That means it sales were poor.
So Eurocom went back to pumping out license games eventually resulting in the critically bashed 007 Legends.
This is 2012. If you release a game that bad people will read the reviews and pick up Dishonored, AC 3, Halo 4, Black Ops 2, Mario etc. instead.
There is still a demand for console games. Good ones that is. Too bad Sphinx didn't sell.
@Texasguy
I remember Sphinx it was freaking hilarious I had it on PS2 I didn't know eurocom made it.
7 Like "Mommy, where do mobile games come from?"
"Well, Billy, when a developer can't cut it in the console marketplace, they go through layoffs and those who are left get reassigned to make mobile games."
"Steep decline in demand for console games".......February 2013 heard you from all the way in the future and now he wont stop laughing :\
1 Like They should of hired some of the people that made the Jason Bourne game, the combat in that game I heard is awesome. Combine that with a decent storyline and they could of had something.
@Realmjumper
I had the Jason Bourne game on PS3 and yes it's combat was indeed badass only problem was some uninspired action set pieces. had 007 Legends had combat like Jason Bourne I'd have bought it without hesitation.
5 Like This is exactly what happens when you release a 47%-scoring game (GameRankings aggregate) at the same time that Assassins Creed III, Halo 4, COD: Black Ops II, NFS: Most Wanted, Forza Horizon, MOH: Warfighter, and Far Cry 3 are coming out. Serves them right.
Decline in console gaming...Are you kidding me? If they hadn't released such a terrible game then they wouldn't be going under in the first place.
@69ingChimpmunks I think what he was trying to say is "decrease in our company's own personal console gaming sales." But you know those businessmen, always trying to cut things down...
4 Like Binns added that the "steep decline in demand" for console games led to the downsizing
Black Ops 2 says hi
Demand for console games is just fine, if the games in question are any good. What a load of shash that statement spouts.
Sucks for the people who lost their jobs, but maybe, just maybe, the game wasn't that good.
It's never nice to see so many people get laid off, but what are you expecting when you make an awful game? It's a shame they don't have the guts to own up to it as well.
2 Like This is not a surprise, if you make shit games what would you expect.
"steep decline in demand" my ass, he's not even honest. 007 was terrible and now they must face consequences.
That is good, the game sucks as much as James Bond sucks.
All Bond films suck, all Bond books suck and ALL BOND GAMES SUCK.
Activision(Kotick),will you ever learn?
Every time you do this kind of stuff a developer team suffers badly or will stop existing!
2 Like I love this line; " "steep decline in demand" for console games". No, there's a steep decline in demand for BAD console games. Make a good game, and there's a good chance people will buy it. Otherwise................
@CptRexKramer it's not always that simple. Studio Liverpool was closed by Sony after making great games like whipeout and destruction derby.
Maybe, but it doesn't change the fact that his console game demand in decline comment is questionable, to say the least. The simple fact is they have not made a good game since..... well, personally, I don't think they have ever made a decent game. Now, I'm not saying they don't have their fans, but when you look at their last few games they have released (007 Legends, Goldeneye 007 and Reloaded, Disney Universe, Rio, Vancouver2010), you see that they just don't make good games and that in turn generally means low sales.
@CptRexKramer agree but my point was not that they make good games. My point was that studios who made great games are closed to or people got fired. There are a lot of good games that don't sell to so it's a difficult balance. But you're right they make crappy games. Greets
PC versions of Activision's James Bond games have been removed from digital sale on Steam, Xbox 360 Games on Demand and Activision's own web store.
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