Pokémon GO developer Niantic is going to lay off around 230 employees. The head of the company says that the sales growth of corona time has shrunk back and that the costs are now too high. New games and other projects have not been able to absorb that blow.
In addition to the layoffs sluit Niantic also the doors of his Los Angeles office; it still retains two offices. It also means that the mobile game NBA All World will stop working and will not get updates anymore. Furthermore, the upcoming Marvel: World of Heroes will no longer be released; which was planned for this year.
Niantic CEO John Hanke explains that the mobile gaming market is “very mature” and “only the best and most unique titles have a chance to succeed.” In addition, he shifts some of the blame towards the ‘macroeconomic deteriorations’. He also observes that the augmented reality market is developing ‘slower than expected’. Yet he also puts his hand in his own bosom by stating that Niantic “bears responsibility for its own achievements.”
After the reorganization, Niantic is focusing on keeping its other existing games well alive. Pokémon GO must ‘stay healthy’, as insinuates that the game is now healthy too. In addition, the focus is on making Pikmin Bloom, Peridot and the upcoming Monster Hunter Now successful. Hanke expresses confidence in that.
This round of layoffs is the second in a relatively short period of time. Last year, Niantic laid off 85 to 90 employees and also canceled four projects. Even then, the ‘time of economic turmoil’ was given as motivation.
Niantic’s greatest achievement is Pokémon GO, a still popular mobile augmented reality game that was popular with an even wider audience at the time of its release.
Marvel World of Heroes will no longer see the light of day.
2023-06-29 18:07:28
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