Midway lays off 180 employees worldwide, Midway Austin closed [update]

by Justin McElroy { Dec 16th 2008 at 12:35PM }

We've just heard secondhand that Midway has laid off "about" 160 people, mainly in its Chicago studio. This wouldn't be surprising considering its numerous and devastating financial troubles as of late but, just so we're clear: we haven't heard anything official. If what we've heard is true though, the company would be halting development on all titles, restructuring, then resuming on all but one game which will be canned completely. Also, the Mortal Kombat team is reportedly safe.

We'll keep digging for some official comment, and if you'd like to talk to us confidentially you can do it here. In the meantime, if the reports are true, our thoughts are with those that may have to start a job hunt soon.

Update: We've gotten official word now that Midway is laying off 25 percent of its workforce, around 180 people in total. Approximately 130 are from its Chicago studios and 45 from its Austin operation, which has closed. Several non-core, unannounced games will be suspended. "The cost-reduction measures are vital for us to rationalize our operations and provide the resources necessary for our core properties to succeed," said Matt Booty, president and CEO of Midway.

Tags: downsizing, firings, midway

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

the_game_master @ Dec 16th 2008 12:43PM

Well Mortal Kombat is really the only game that's carried Midway, its carried them for nearly 17 years.

LeadBoxx @ Dec 16th 2008 12:46PM

They need a government bail out!

Poisoned Al @ Dec 16th 2008 3:12PM

It's not the same as the American car industry.

Midway has made the same old, dreadful, overpriced crap that nobody wants for years and lost tones of money thanks to horrid mismanagement...

Oh wait, maybe they are like the American car industry.

bearxor @ Dec 16th 2008 5:46PM

*checks flowchart*

OH SNAP!

Shagittarius @ Dec 16th 2008 12:46PM

All this while videogames are posting 10 percent gains over last years sales. Does this mean that most of those games are coming from a few publishers? Perhaps even though the industry is growing in sales, its actually diminishing in studios?

I think that would be a bad thing.

Sheppy (of the Fidlious Clan of Wong) @ Dec 16th 2008 1:58PM

Most of that growth is actually coming from early 08.

LordVesper007 @ Dec 16th 2008 12:57PM

That sucks but what can you expect when Midway keeps churning out shitty games...

I hope they find employment soon and I truly wish them good luck in whatever they do.

Kizzle @ Dec 16th 2008 1:01PM

Fucccckkkkk. I hope SOMETHING survives. I want a new full-on MK game; MK vs. DC was a fun game despite the T-rating and laid the groundwork for it. Now throw some blood in and we're off and running.

If not, hopefully someone picks up the license and does something fresh with it.

LordVesper007 @ Dec 16th 2008 1:06PM

25%

Wow...I didn't think it was that bad. They need to make a GOOD Mortal Kombat game and quit with the bullshit otherwise the other 75% will sadly be looking for jobs as well.

Mr Khan @ Dec 16th 2008 1:28PM

Is Mortal Kombat capable of being a good game, though? Every time i hear about MK, it's always with reference to II as the height of the franchise, and i could imagine that a lot of the value of that game at the time was shock value

An honest question, not a bash. Could Midway make Mortal Kombat great without some sort of fundamental overhaul?

Bigfoot @ Dec 16th 2008 1:31PM

MK could be a great game again, but they need to go back to what it was. Digitalized characters in a 2D fighter. To me, MK was awesome until it went 3D.

LordVesper007 @ Dec 16th 2008 1:39PM

3D isn't what killed them. For a while there they were kicking but with the series. However I think they've run out of gas. They need to take a break look at how they can introduce new elements into the series that will change it overall while retaining the core essence of what Mortal Kombat was and could be again.

Anyways I'm hoping Midway makes some significant changes. I knew this MK vs DC stuff was a failure a long time ago.

It's time to get to work Midway.

PS On a completely unrelated note why does my user profile pic keep switching back and forth between Mario and my lovely Vesper? Is it just another sign of how broken Joystiq is?

Mr Khan @ Dec 16th 2008 1:52PM

It's a relatively recent problem for joystiq (only started afflicting me with my most recent avatar change in mid October), but your avatar will keep switching back and forth until it's about 2,3 weeks old, then it should stop

Dirty @ Dec 16th 2008 1:56PM

well it help me keep track of who everyone is, as I mostly look for the Avatar.

doom saber @ Dec 16th 2008 2:26PM

I too wonder if any future Mortal Kombat games will be good especially since it is the gore and fatalities that made the game so well-known.

I have yet to play dc vs mk to know if it is superior to the previous games, but after playin the other 3d ones, I don't know...