Quick access to main page (top) Direct access to main contents Quick access to main page (bottom)

Smilegate Barcelona Closes With All Employees Laid Off

theguru Views  

Smilegate’s first overseas game development studio, Smilegate Barcelona, has closed its doors. The global gaming industry’s restructuring winds are also affecting Korean game companies.

Stephane Blais, former World Director of Smilegate Barcelona, announced on LinkedIn on the 27th (local time) that “Smilegate Barcelona is closing its doors. All staff are being laid off.” Edouard Albert, who served as a producer, indicated his availability for employment by posting the hashtag “#OPENTOWORK” and stating, “My journey at Smilegate Barcelona has ended.”

Smilegate Barcelona was Smilegate’s first overseas game development studio, established in July 2020. Smilegate recruited developers from global game development companies such as Rockstar, Ubisoft, and Crytek. By this, it expressed its ambition to develop AAA-grade games mainly for consoles such as PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S at the Barcelona studio.

In December 2021, they expanded their office to the 13th floor of Torre Glòries located in Barcelona and strengthened their capabilities by increasing the number of developers.

However, Smilegate Barcelona could not avoid the restructuring storm that has hit global tech companies. Since the second half of last year, massive layoffs have occurred in the global IT industry. Startups and even giant tech companies like Alphabet, Amazon, Microsoft, and Meta are no exception. There are talks in the industry that this situation reminds them of the Dot-com Bubble in 2001.

This also applies to the gaming industry. This year, in February, Sony Interactive Entertainment (SIE) carried out a large-scale restructuring targeting its global branches, resulting in some studios closing.

Stephane Blais commented, “As our industry is gradually transforming into a battleship game, it’s now our turn to take a hit,” adding, “The past six months have been very challenging.”

theguru
content@viewusglobal.com

Comments0

300

Comments0

[BUSINESS] Latest Stories

  • Honda's NSX Returns: A 1,000-Horsepower Electric Rival to Lexus LFR
  • Honda’s S7 Electric SUV: A Major Player in the Race for EV Dominance
  • Lamborghini's First EV: A 2,000-Horsepower Beast Built for Speed and Emotion
  • Ford Revives Classic Design with the 2025 Bronco Heritage Edition
  • ID.EVERY1: Volkswagen's $21K Electric Vehicle Aims to Make Green Driving Accessible
  • Toyota’s bZ3X SUV Surges with 10,000 Pre-Orders: A New Era in EVs

You May Also Like

  • 1
    New Drug Helps Patients with Myasthenia Gravis Breathe and Speak Easier

    LIFESTYLE 

  • 2
    Bristol-Myers’ Schizophrenia Drug Falls Short in Key Trial

    LIFESTYLE 

  • 3
    Novavax COVID Vaccine Still on Hold—More Trials Needed, Says FDA

    LIFESTYLE 

  • 4
    Want to Lower Your Blood Pressure? Eat More Bananas, Study Says

    LIFESTYLE 

  • 5
    Weekend Workouts Are Enough to Cut Diabetes Risk, Study Says

    LIFESTYLE 

Popular Now

  • 1
    Brushing Right After Eating Could Hurt Your Teeth—Here’s Why

    LIFESTYLE 

  • 2
    Early Bedtimes Could Help Teens Boost Brain Power, Study Finds

    LIFESTYLE 

  • 3
    Scientists Find a New Reason to Snack on Walnuts

    LIFESTYLE 

  • 4
    It’s Not Just How Long You Sleep—It’s How You Sleep That Matters

    LIFESTYLE 

  • 5
    Want to Live to 100? Start Eating Like They Do in the Blue Zones

    LIFESTYLE 

Must-Reads

  • 1
    New Drug Helps Patients with Myasthenia Gravis Breathe and Speak Easier

    LIFESTYLE 

  • 2
    Bristol-Myers’ Schizophrenia Drug Falls Short in Key Trial

    LIFESTYLE 

  • 3
    Novavax COVID Vaccine Still on Hold—More Trials Needed, Says FDA

    LIFESTYLE 

  • 4
    Want to Lower Your Blood Pressure? Eat More Bananas, Study Says

    LIFESTYLE 

  • 5
    Weekend Workouts Are Enough to Cut Diabetes Risk, Study Says

    LIFESTYLE 

Popular Now

  • 1
    Brushing Right After Eating Could Hurt Your Teeth—Here’s Why

    LIFESTYLE 

  • 2
    Early Bedtimes Could Help Teens Boost Brain Power, Study Finds

    LIFESTYLE 

  • 3
    Scientists Find a New Reason to Snack on Walnuts

    LIFESTYLE 

  • 4
    It’s Not Just How Long You Sleep—It’s How You Sleep That Matters

    LIFESTYLE 

  • 5
    Want to Live to 100? Start Eating Like They Do in the Blue Zones

    LIFESTYLE 

Share it on...