Square Enix Confirms Layoffs At Io Interactive

Hitman and Kane and Lynch developer IO Interactive is seeing its second round of layoffs this year, a staffing move Square Enix says is related to regular development cycle flux. "I can confirm that we have made some internal changes at IO Interactive which have regrettably resulted in the loss of some jobs," the publisher told consumer weblog Kotaku. According to the report, 30 staffers were affected, but Square Enix declined to confirm that number. 3D Realms lead George Broussard, discussing the layoffs on Twitter, also said a project was cancelled at IO Interactive, but Square Enix did not confirm this, either. Continued the rep's statement: "This is a natural part of any studio's existence when you ramp-up and ramp-down on projects to ensure you have the right level of resource and expertise within the studio. "We genuinely wish those who have been affected by this, the best of luck for the future," he added. The company made a reduction in March of this year of what was believed to have been about 35 employees. IO Interactive, headquartered in Denmark, was founded in 1998, and has been owned by Square Enix since the publisher's acquisition of Eidos in 2009. Its latest title was Kane & Lynch 2: Dog Days. The title charted well immediately after its release, but enjoyed only a brief period of brisk sales.