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Report: Raven hit with layoffs, 40 let go

by David Hinkle on Oct 11th 2010 2:05PM

According to a report over on Kotaku, Raven Software has dismissed 40 employees. Activision neglected to respond to the purported number in a supposed statement given to the blog, citing Raven is "realigning its workforce to better reflect the studio's upcoming slate." The developer recently concluded work on Singularity.

Kotaku offers that this "realigning" is so that Raven can focus on creating downloadable content -- the studio was reported to be working on DLC for Call of Duty: Black Ops back in May. We're currently digging for more and will let you know what we hear back.

Source: Kotaku

Tags: activision, layoffs, microsoft, pc, playstation, ps3, raven-software, Singularity, xbox

Reader Comments (27)

Shame. I like Raven and their games... Too bad Activision owns them

@Enigma7ic

Was Singularity any good?

@Faenix

It wasn't highly polished, but it was still a lot of fun and could have benefited from some more funding. There were some really creative campaign levels and aside from some matchmaking issues the multiplayer added was fun too. Seriously, nothing is better than vomiting on player or taking over their body to kill them.

@Faenix

I really enjoyed the campaign. There were some great moments with the time shifts and some awesome weapons like the Seeker.

MP was fun but very barebones. Only a few maps and 2 modes. underlying ideas were cool, but it suffered from crippling lag and most of the time I couldn't even find anyone to play with.

@Enigma7ic
Too bad Activision owns any studio

Marvel Ultimate Alliance (FIRST GAME) was pretty good and had tons of RPG elements to oogle at.

Also, that Wolverine movie-based game was really quite a treat and loads of fun to eviscerate people in.

Activision really takes care of their own :)

"Studio lays off 40 employees."
Publisher: "They are in the process of re-aligning their workforce to better reflect their schedule."

"Studio explodes in a burning inferno, no one escaped."
Publisher: "They are in the process of re-aligning their workforce to better reflect their schedule."

The publishers sound like Microsoft anymore:

Q: "Is the earth round?"
MS: "Microsoft does not comment on rumor or speculation."

It sucks when a studio who is capable of making genuinely good games(marvel/x-men action rpgs, x-men origins: wolverine), is now working on making DLC for another developers' game.

@Bigduo209

I'm surprised to learn that DLCs for Black Ops are farmed out. I would think that the original developers would be the best ones to develop good DLCs that fit in with original game seeing as how they know the ins-and-outs of it and probably have leftover ideas that they weren't able to incorporate into the game given their original budget and timeline...

@FlashJS

Sorry dude, After this Black Ops ships more than likely the original devs are going back to the working table to make Black Ops 2 for 2012.

That really sucks, I loved Singularity, and would love to see what else they could have done. It's a shame Activision's got them making Black Ops DLC now.

damn, it seems as if many companies like this are laying off people

Real shame X-Men Legends, Wolverine and Ultimate Alliance were brilliant games. Even Singularity had it's moments but nonetheless fun. Sad to see good developers get hurt even though Kotick-Vision are dirty thieves :-(

This really sucks. Singularity was an awesome game. It's not Raven's fault that Activision didn't give them ANY marketing help whatsoever.

@False It's the Kotick way. If it can't be franchised then it doesn't get the AAA treatment.

What a bunch of crap. Singularity was largely ignored, so point the finger at yourself if you feel you've lost something here. The game was good but not good enough and that's that.

People need to buy new games or developers lose their jobs, it's as simple as that.

In all honesty, I admire Raven...their latest shooters Wolfenstein and Singularity were both simple and delightful to play. In my opinion they have a old school feeling when it comes to their shooters. Also they arent afraid to put something nuts like magic and aging in their shooters. I really hope they can get out of this slump...

What a shame, Raven Software always seemed like the company that was just a little funding short of developing an amazing title. They've developed good titles before and could just never quite take that next step to making something amazing.

Also a shame cause they're fellow Wisconsinites and there isn't exactly a wealth of game industry jobs in the state that they can scoop up. If they want to stay in the industry they'll likely have to just pick up their things and move elsewhere.

Back when I played the first Call of Duty, I could never have imagined what kind of impact it would have on the world

My wife works in the building right next to theirs. Runs into some of them in the shared underground parking lot.

...and my primary care provider is married to one of the devs... I hope he still has a job.

It's really sad to see this great dev being picked apart like it's namesake on a corpse.

No one deserves to be Kotick'd... Much less a quality developer.

I've always been a fan of Raven Software. I remember back in 2000, two guys from Raven were right behind in me in line at Circuit City for the PS2 launch. It's been fun tracking their rise, and it sucks that this has happened.

I'm sure it made complete business sense to sell to Activision, but this exact same thing happens with every single developer that is purchased by a big publisher. They are handed several projects, told to build up their staff, and then inevitably, they have to make large layoffs as the project load lightens.

That's too bad, I'd like to see another Soldier of Fortune in glorious gory HD at some point. (SoF3 doesn't count as that was by another developer)

Damn shame. Loved Singularity, if every game could have a "time bubble then shoot every dude in the brain" mechanic, the world would be a better place. Hope everyone finds new jobs quickly.

A friend of mine works there, hope he still does.

Singularity is basically Bioshock in Russia - it's perfectly decent. Had very nice gun models with 1940's versions of holographic optics.

Yeah. They are working solely on DLC. You know what that means? 6-8 Black Ops map packs within a year of launch. Probably.

@Madgame
I wish I could upvote you 20 times. I will always love them for JK2 and even JKA. I really expected a 3rd from them. :( It's like the only game that did lightsaber/force gameplay mechanics justice (WITH online).

Crap. I live near Raven, and some of the people at my school get hired by them.

Breaking News

Singularity

Report: Raven hit with layoffs, 40 let go

Reader Comments (27)

Posted: Oct 11th 2010 2:11PM Enigma7ic said

Posted: Oct 11th 2010 3:04PM Faenix said

Posted: Oct 11th 2010 3:13PM Tapejara said

Posted: Oct 11th 2010 3:19PM Enigma7ic said

Posted: Oct 11th 2010 7:35PM Lerkero said

Posted: Oct 11th 2010 7:41PM MyAbsolution said

Posted: Oct 11th 2010 2:18PM noyesa said

Posted: Oct 11th 2010 2:31PM Bigduo209 said

Posted: Oct 11th 2010 3:58PM FlashJS said

Posted: Oct 11th 2010 7:43PM MyAbsolution said

Posted: Oct 11th 2010 2:36PM Tapejara said

Posted: Oct 11th 2010 2:39PM bloodlinejake said

Posted: Oct 11th 2010 2:42PM Hawkz900 said

Posted: Oct 11th 2010 2:46PM False said

Posted: Oct 11th 2010 6:03PM Darth Tigris said

Posted: Oct 12th 2010 11:32AM jsx92 said

Posted: Oct 11th 2010 2:47PM Hitman190 said

Posted: Oct 11th 2010 2:54PM Xcrucio said

Posted: Oct 11th 2010 3:16PM Drew327 said

Posted: Oct 11th 2010 3:31PM Wulf said

Posted: Oct 11th 2010 3:44PM dalfiuss said

Posted: Oct 11th 2010 4:24PM Pure Black World Tendency said

Posted: Oct 11th 2010 4:56PM Pratfall said

Posted: Oct 11th 2010 5:27PM benheck said

Posted: Oct 11th 2010 6:35PM lenandude said

Posted: Oct 12th 2010 4:53AM KindaOdd said

Posted: Oct 12th 2010 8:34AM Timerider said

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