Following tips that Crystal Dynamics, current developer of the
Tomb Raider series, experienced layoffs yesterday, publisher Eidos has confirmed to Joystiq that approximately 30 employees have been let go. When asked what the reason for the layoffs were, a company spokesperson said, "We have increased the focus on the
Tomb Raider franchise at Crystal Dynamics, regrettably this has resulted in the reduction in headcount." Increased focus means layoffs ... okay?
Follow up questions regarding Eidos' sales expectations for
Tomb Raider Underworld and how those figures were projected were not answered. The Crystal Dynamics layoffs come following Eidos'
disappointment with Tomb Raider Underworld sales.
[
Update: Joystiq has confirmed that Eric Lindstrom, Underworld's Creative Director, was among those let go.]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Kye says: I like turtles @ Jan 10th 2009 2:16PM
That picture is worth a thousand words.
Mattb90 @ Jan 10th 2009 2:17PM
I think Crystal Dynamics were working on other non-Tomb Raider titles, and that the people working on these (or at least some of) have lost their jobs - hence CD will focus all remaining staff on Tomb Raider games.
J.Goodwin @ Jan 10th 2009 3:53PM
Yeah, sounds like they canceled an unannounced project.
EgoCheck616 @ Jan 10th 2009 2:19PM
:(
Best of luck to those who lost their jobs
deaftly @ Jan 10th 2009 3:14PM
Thanks, just lost mine yesterday :(
Tristan @ Jan 10th 2009 2:19PM
So the people they let off caused the team to lose focus or something!?
Well I hope the next Tomb Raider is just as beautiful of a game.
Freeze @ Jan 10th 2009 2:30PM
well eidos should of had crystal dynamics work on a new legacy of kain game instead of tomb raider.
Cutty @ Jan 10th 2009 2:32PM
If Tomb Raider is to blame for this then I can't believe a game can sell 1.5 million copies and still be responsible for job losses.
WiredKnight @ Jan 10th 2009 2:56PM
Too many cooks spoil the broth.
A smaller team is more agile in development, it's easier to come to consensus, members can get to know each other better, and if you're still keeping the people who've worked on previous titles, it makes total sense to say they're letting people go to improve their focus.
futurebiblehero @ Jan 10th 2009 3:00PM
I hope "focusing" doesn't mean going into damage control and breaking the formula. Underworld was great. It just needed a lot more replay value and a little more time in the oven. Don't blame the franchise. Blame the fact that it was clearly rushed.
It also needed fewer checkpoints (I can't believe I'm saying that). Making these games as forgiving as Underworld and the latest PoP has really castrated the thrill of games in this particular genre. TR: Legend and Anniversary got the balance right. It'd be nice to see a return to that as well.
Snowblind @ Jan 10th 2009 3:57PM
Yup.. Once again Eidos rushed the game out before Christmas when the game clearly needed a little more work, and then they blame the developers for everything, which is very ridiculous in this case, considering it actually sold pretty well.
Rob Accomando @ Jan 10th 2009 3:01PM
TR: Underworld was awesome. I guess a game has to sell GTAIV style to be successful?
JoeTheBlow @ Jan 10th 2009 3:15PM
Shareholders. Thats what its all about.
Some imaginary numbers didn't match, which affected more imaginary numbers.
Fuck the employees, fuck the reviews, fuck the copies sold. All that matters is meeting the projections and keeping the stock price up.
Makes me sick.
JoeTheBlow @ Jan 10th 2009 3:13PM
As usual, the people who actually do the work pay the price for having moronic managers.
I wouldn't waste my piss if Eidos was on fire right now.
Young_Nastyman @ Jan 10th 2009 3:29PM
It's ok, those ta-tas can float...not sure what will happen if she hits the pointy rocks down there tho
sw1tch @ Jan 10th 2009 7:09PM
Great picture!
left.e @ Jan 10th 2009 11:47PM
"increased focus" probably means they were overly confident in the promised expansion of the franchise, but poor sales figures means team reduction.
they bit off more than they could chew.
kinda like planning a movie trilogy before the first chapter has even finished filming.