Rumor: More layoffs at Mythic, senior designers affected [update]

by Alexander Sliwinski { Feb 4th 2009 at 12:41PM }

Joystiq has learned from several well-placed sources that a second round -- a much more serious round -- of layoffs has struck Mythic Entertainment. These cuts go further and deeper than the last round, which saw several members of the support staff let go. Current estimates indicate that between 60 and 130 people have been let go. These layoffs most certainly affect the development staff, and we've been told extend even to the ranks of senior designers. These rumored layoffs come less than a week after the announcement of a full-scale live event expansion for Warhammer Online.

We've contacted EA for a statement and are awaiting a response. The publisher stated yesterday that it had increased its number of planned layoffs. If you're one of those who Mythic let go, please feel free to contact us.

Update: We've placed EA's statement after the break.

[Thanks to Massively for the assist.]

EA's statement:
"Mythic has always been committed to maintaining a high level of development and customer service to MMO players. In regards to rumors of staffing reductions today, we want to provide more insights. Mythic is resizing the team to move from a pre-launch to a post-launch size and remains fully committed to maintaining the trust of the WAR players. In no way does this conflict with our commitment to customer service and upcoming content schedule for the game - we remain fully committed to creating and delivering the best WAR experience."

Tags: ea, mythic, mythic-entertainment, warhammer-online

Related From Joystiq

Mythic reassures customers of stability in face of firings
27 days ago
Report: EA layoffs at four major divisions [update]
29 days ago
The Beatles: Rock Band execs say Yoko Ono 'gave the designers hell' [update]
115 days ago

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

Hopper @ Feb 4th 2009 12:48PM

With all this news of all these job layoffs it seems like Joystiq should be called Sadstiq instead.

SuburbGuerrilla @ Feb 4th 2009 12:57PM

wow, you worked hard for that one

Brian @ Feb 4th 2009 1:12PM

http://www.instantrimshot.com/
:|

dark_inchworm (on Steam!) dark inchworm (on XBL!) @ Feb 4th 2009 2:17PM

Or maybe Crytek should buy this blog out.

Crystiq.

Tiptup300 @ Feb 4th 2009 2:32PM

http://img140.imageshack.us/img140/8042/deletexe1.png
Next version of joystiq. :(

Sidebuster @ Feb 4th 2009 12:51PM

hmmm. I love DAoC I hope this doesn't lead to the demise of Mythic in the Future.

Hopper @ Feb 4th 2009 1:03PM

You have no idea how much blood, sweat, and agony it took to come up with that lame joke.

jboy @ Feb 4th 2009 1:11PM

Put a fork in WAR...it's done!

Another WoW killer bites the dust. Next time EA should use a good studio to develop an MMORPG.

Lord Negatron @ Feb 4th 2009 2:01PM

WAR was never meant to be a WoW killer, fans, and the media might have given it that title. Also Mythic does its style the best in terms of MMOs, Realm vs Realm combat.

zuburi @ Feb 4th 2009 2:07PM

I know a few people on the senior design staff. How dare they try and create a quality product!

Seriously though, I hope you get laid off from *your* job at Burger King.

Deck @ Feb 4th 2009 1:18PM

Well if this indeed becomes fact, WAR truly hasn't hit the popularity that they were hoping for. An MMORPG can't last long if they are losing their staff.

Nill @ Feb 4th 2009 1:27PM

jboy do u even know anything about mythic or the game industry .EA came in and bought them before they had finished the game. EA had nothing to do with the game till the end. And mythic made some good MMORPGs before this one not saying i like them but they made money to get there hands on the warhammer name what have you done?????

stump @ Feb 4th 2009 1:33PM

I dont think EA had anything to really do with the game besides push it out the door faster. EA came later wow fanboy

wind @ Feb 4th 2009 1:37PM

Wow fanboys lol

Urza @ Feb 4th 2009 1:41PM

Sad news for WAR fans, particularly since WAR is a really good game. Maybe if they'd launched with fewer servers so that there wouldn't have been so many lopsided servers (more Chaos then Order) a lot of people would have stuck around.

zuburi @ Feb 4th 2009 2:06PM

Totally agree. The thing that made me let my subscription lapse was the low population on the servers. If they merged a ton, I might go back - it may have been the best MMO I've ever played, but the population was lacking.

Bailers @ Feb 4th 2009 4:41PM

How sad, more people out of work.

C lab Cpn @ Feb 4th 2009 5:51PM

Damn, this makes me a sad panda.

I still play WAR; I played WoW for a solid 2+ years and can confidently say that WAR offers a MUCH more satisfying experience in terms of PVP/RVR content. It could use a little tweaking sure, but as far as heart and substance goes WAR kicks the majority of competing MMOs to the curb.

Here's hoping Mythic can pull through.

kwgamer @ Feb 4th 2009 6:58PM

Played WoW... fun, even returned to check it out after this latest expansion.
Played WAR... fun, payed my account out 6 months and then canceled, in part because I've had to move the same characters to 3 different servers due to lack of population. (Which I found interesting that each move was directed by those in charge.)

Now, I'm enjoying EVE Online... and hats off to CCP. Proof of concept that you don't have to be Blizzard or sell your soul to EA to produce something interesting, and still be successful by doing what you love. (Hmm... maybe I should log back into WAR and see if I have to move my characters again.)