Big layoffs at embattled Payday studio Starbreeze Eurogamer.net If you click on a link and make a purchase we may receive a small commission. Read our editorial policy. Big layoffs at embattled Payday studio Starbreeze 60 jobs cut as developer bids to stay afloat. News by Wesley Yin-Poole Deputy Editorial Director Updated on 4 Jun 2019 9 comments Embattled Swedish studio Starbreeze has announced plans to cut 60 jobs as part of its fight to stay afloat. The company behind the Payday franchise said it took the decision "to make the organisation more efficient and reduce costs", and "to be able to operate an efficient and profitable business long-term". The layoffs, due to happen in November, will result in a saving of 3m SEK (£250,000) a month. Starbreeze currently has 240 employees. A Starbreeze source told Eurogamer company management is going about the layoffs by the book, and is following Swedish law and regulations in the process. "They have been very very open with everything, and they are actively looking to assist anyone affected, up to the point of allowing shared portfolio projects internally of office hours, and introductions to others companies in Stockholm," the source said. Starbreeze went into reconstruction in December 2018 after the failure of Overkill's The Walking Dead. You can read about the studio's dramatic downfall in our in-depth feature, The Fall of Starbreeze. Since then, the company has cut costs by selling off parts of the business deemed non-essential, and focusing on game development and publishing. "In the past six months we have made a number of changes to the business following our strategy to focus on the core business," Starbreeze CEO Mikael Nermark said. "We have divested some operations that we consider non-core and we now have to look inward to make the core business more efficient. To make staff reductions is a tough decision to make, but necessary to enable Starbreeze to develop well long-term." Become a Eurogamer subscriber and get your first month for £1 Get your first month for £1 (normally £3.99) when you buy a Standard Eurogamer subscription. Enjoy ad-free browsing, merch discounts, our monthly letter from the editor, and show your support with a supporter-exclusive comment flair! Support us View supporter archive More News Splatoon 3 Amiibos will be out next month Ink-coming! 3 Fans think Phil Spencer's shelf is teasing the Xbox Game Pass streaming box UPDATE: Xbox confirms old Keystone prototype. 61 Modder dives into Demon's Souls files following PS5 jailbreak, discovers fabled Ring of the Chieftain Who knows what's nexus? 5 Google announces cloud gaming Chromebooks less than a fortnight after Stadia shutdown GeForce Now preinstalled. 11 Latest Articles Digital Foundry Sennheiser's legendary HD 599 open-back headphones are just £70 at Amazon in the Prime Early Access Sale Comfortable with neutral sound and a wide sound stage. Preview Football Manager's new Console edition is the best you'll get without a PC Getting Touch-right. 1 Splatoon 3 Amiibos will be out next month Ink-coming! 3 Fans think Phil Spencer's shelf is teasing the Xbox Game Pass streaming box UPDATE: Xbox confirms old Keystone prototype. 61 Supporters Only Premium only Off Topic: Take a minute to appreciate Cookin' with Coolio's incredible scallops recipe. What a great book. Premium only Off Topic: Reading City of Glass in comic form "Where exactly am I going?" Premium only Off Topic: Il Buco is a transporting film about a really big hole Underlands. Off-Topic Netflix handled Sandman brilliantly It was Dreamy. 9 Buy things with globes on them And other lovely Eurogamer merch in our official store! Explore our store