{"id":2067110,"date":"2026-07-29T08:53:19","date_gmt":"2026-07-29T05:53:19","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/?p=2067110"},"modified":"2026-07-29T08:53:19","modified_gmt":"2026-07-29T05:53:19","slug":"double-fine-hit-with-layoffs-after-exiting-xbox-the-people-we-are-losing-were-all-important","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/?p=2067110","title":{"rendered":"Double Fine hit with layoffs after exiting Xbox &#8211; &#8220;The people we are losing were all important&#8221;"},"content":{"rendered":"<article class=\"article \" data-ads=\"true\" data-article-type=\"news\" data-article-group=\"news\" data-paywalled=\"false\" data-premium=\"false\" data-sponsored=\"false\" data-type=\"article\">\n<header class=\"article_header\" data-component=\"article-header\">\n<div class=\"breadcrumbs\">\n<nav class=\"nav_breadcrumbs\" data-component=\"nav-breadcrumbs\" aria-label=\"Breadcrumb\">\n<ul class=\"nav-links\">\n<li>\n                <a href=\"https:\/\/www.eurogamer.net\/\" data-active=\"false\"><br \/>\n                      Home<br \/>\n                <\/a>\n            <\/li>\n<li>\n                <a href=\"https:\/\/www.eurogamer.net\/news\" data-active=\"false\"><br \/>\n                      News<br \/>\n                <\/a>\n            <\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/nav><\/div>\n<div class=\"headline_details\" id=\"main-content\">\n<h1 class=\"title\">Double Fine hit with layoffs after exiting Xbox &#8211; &#8220;The people we are losing were all important&#8221;<\/h1>\n<p class=\"strapline\">&#8220;These actions are not taken lightly.&#8221;<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"headline_asset\">\n<figure class=\"headline_image_wrapper\">\n<p>        <img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"headline_image\" src=\"https:\/\/assetsio.gnwcdn.com\/Kiln-screenshot.jpg?width=570&amp;quality=85&amp;format=jpg&amp;dpr=3&amp;auto=webp\" alt=\"Two fantasy characters in Kiln\" loading=\"eager\" data-uri=\"Kiln-screenshot.jpg\" data-lightbox width=\"570\" height=\"321\"><figcaption>\n          <span class=\"attribution\">Image credit: <cite>Double Fine Productions<\/cite><\/span><br \/>\n        <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"metadata\">\n<div class=\"avatar\">\n<p>    <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Fran Ruiz avatar\" src=\"https:\/\/assetsio.gnwcdn.com\/fran-j-ruiz-author.png?width=2048&amp;height=2048&amp;fit=bounds&amp;quality=85&amp;format=jpg&amp;auto=webp\" style=\"aspect-ratio: 1\" width=\"180\" height=\"180\"><\/p>\n<p>  <img alt=\"Fran Ruiz avatar\" data-autosize=\"crop_lossy\" data-uri=\"fran-j-ruiz-author.png\" loading=\"lazy\" style=\"aspect-ratio: 1\" width=\"180\" height=\"180\">\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"text\">\n<div class=\"byline\">\n                  <span class=\"article_type\" data-slug=\"news\"><br \/>\n                    News<br \/>\n                  <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span class=\"by\">by<\/span> <span class=\"author\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.eurogamer.net\/authors\/fran-ruiz\">Fran Ruiz<\/a><\/span>                    <span class=\"job_title\"><br \/>\n                      Contributor<br \/>\n                    <\/span>\n            <\/div>\n<div class=\"published_at\">\nPublished on <time datetime=\"2026-07-29T08:53:19+00:00\">July 29, 2026<\/time>              <\/div>\n<div class=\"comments\">\n      <a class=\"comments__link comments-bubble\" href=\"https:\/\/www.eurogamer.net\/double-fine-layoffs-after-xbox-exit?view=comments\" rel=\"nofollow\"><br \/>\n          14 comments<br \/>\n      <\/a>\n    <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"mypop-header-wrapper\">\n<p><button class=\"mypop-button button wide\" data-state=\"follow\" data-type=\"tag\" data-uuid=\"74458eb5-5606-453b-85e7-44ee14afddeb\" data-name=\"Keeper (2025)\" data-follow-text=\"Follow Keeper (2025)\" data-unfollow-text=\"Following Keeper (2025)\" data-aria-follow-text=\"Follow Keeper (2025)\" data-aria-unfollow-text=\"Following Keeper (2025)\" data-popup=\"true\" data-force-login=\"true\" aria-label=\"Follow Keeper (2025)\" title=\"Follow Keeper (2025)\"><br \/>\n  Follow Keeper (2025)<br \/>\n<\/button>          <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/header>\n<div class=\"article_body\" data-component=\"article-content\">\n<div class=\"article_body_content article-styling\">\n<p>Nearly a month after it was announced <a href=\"https:\/\/www.eurogamer.net\/microsoft-xbox-layoffs-2026-double-fine-compulsion-ninja-theory\">Xbox was cutting 3200 jobs across the division and parting ways with four studios<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.eurogamer.net\/psychonauts-2-review\">Psychonauts 2<\/a> studio Double Fine Productions is laying off staffers to ensure its short-term survival.<\/p>\n<p>On 28th July, studio head &#8211; and LucasArts veteran &#8211; Tim Schafer shared a brief announcement <a href=\"https:\/\/bsky.app\/profile\/doublefine.com\/post\/3mrq3vfqkf22s\">on social media<\/a> revealing that 23 employees were being laid off. &#8220;Only the survival of our studio would ever make us consider such a painful action. Our transition to becoming an independent company also means becoming a size that we can sustain.&#8221; <a href=\"https:\/\/bsky.app\/profile\/jasonschreier.bsky.social\/post\/3mrq3scnjq22j\">According to Bloomberg reporter Jason Schreier<\/a>, the studio was around 90 people before the cuts.<\/p>\n<figure>\n<div class=\"primis_wrapper\">\n<div class=\"primis_video\">\n<p><span class=\"embed_placeholder\" data-type=\"targeting\" style=\"display: none\"><br \/>\n<span class=\"message\">To see this content please enable targeting cookies.<\/span><br \/>\n<button class=\"optanon-show-settings link\"><br \/>\nManage cookie settings<\/button><\/span> <\/div>\n<\/div><figcaption>Kiln &#8211; Official Launch Trailer<a class=\"video\" href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=Z7GftAsWJTw\" rel=\"noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Watch on YouTube<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>&#8220;We are committed to supporting each affected person as best as we can, and we thank them for their hard work and commitment to the creative spirit we cherish here at Doble Fine,&#8221; the message by Schafer added.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/kotaku.com\/double-fine-lays-off-employees-amid-xbox-separation-2000719885\">According to Kotaku<\/a>, an Xbox spokesperson shared the following statement: &#8220;Double Fine fully returned to independent management earlier this week, with their IP, catalog, and runway for their next games. As they begin their next chapter as an independent studio, we look forward to seeing what they create next.&#8221; The studio&#8217;s current runway is unclear. Shortly after exiting Xbox, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.eurogamer.net\/double-fine-compulsion-games-statement-xbox-restructuring\">Double Fine confirmed it would go back to being an independent studio<\/a> and preserve its history and culture.<\/p>\n<p><span class=\"injection_placeholder\" data-position=\"1\"><\/span><\/p>\n<p>While at Xbox, Double Fine released <a href=\"https:\/\/www.eurogamer.net\/games\/psychonauts-2\">Psychonauts 2<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.eurogamer.net\/keeper-review\">Keeper<\/a>, and the multiplayer pottery game <a href=\"https:\/\/www.eurogamer.net\/psychonauts-studios-pottery-themed-party-brawler-kiln-xbox-playstation-and-pc\">Kiln<\/a>. As a high-profile studio known for off-beat games with a ton of heart, it&#8217;s likely the team will be attempting to keep its spirit alive through similar projects, but this round of cuts will no doubt put more pressure on the remaining employees. Here&#8217;s hoping there&#8217;s a bright future ahead of the studio despite everything.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"preferred-source\" data-component=\"preferred-source\">\nLove Eurogamer.net? Make us a <a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/preferences\/source?q=https:\/\/www.eurogamer.net\">Preferred Source on Google<\/a> and catch more of our coverage in your feeds.  <\/div>\n<\/article>\n<div class=\"article_body\" data-component=\"article-content\">\n<div class=\"article_body_content article-styling\">\n<p>Nearly a month after it was announced <a href=\"https:\/\/www.eurogamer.net\/microsoft-xbox-layoffs-2026-double-fine-compulsion-ninja-theory\">Xbox was cutting 3200 jobs across the division and parting ways with four studios<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.eurogamer.net\/psychonauts-2-review\">Psychonauts 2<\/a> studio Double Fine Productions is laying off staffers to ensure its short-term survival.<\/p>\n<p>On 28th July, studio head &#8211; and LucasArts veteran &#8211; Tim Schafer shared a brief announcement <a href=\"https:\/\/bsky.app\/profile\/doublefine.com\/post\/3mrq3vfqkf22s\">on social media<\/a> revealing that 23 employees were being laid off. &#8220;Only the survival of our studio would ever make us consider such a painful action. Our transition to becoming an independent company also means becoming a size that we can sustain.&#8221; <a href=\"https:\/\/bsky.app\/profile\/jasonschreier.bsky.social\/post\/3mrq3scnjq22j\">According to Bloomberg reporter Jason Schreier<\/a>, the studio was around 90 people before the cuts.<\/p>\n<figure>\n<div class=\"primis_wrapper\">\n<div class=\"primis_video\">\n<p><span class=\"embed_placeholder\" data-type=\"targeting\" style=\"display: none\"><br \/>\n<span class=\"message\">To see this content please enable targeting cookies.<\/span><br \/>\n<button class=\"optanon-show-settings link\"><br \/>\nManage cookie settings<\/button><\/span> <\/div>\n<\/div><figcaption>Kiln &#8211; Official Launch Trailer<a class=\"video\" href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=Z7GftAsWJTw\" rel=\"noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Watch on YouTube<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>&#8220;We are committed to supporting each affected person as best as we can, and we thank them for their hard work and commitment to the creative spirit we cherish here at Doble Fine,&#8221; the message by Schafer added.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/kotaku.com\/double-fine-lays-off-employees-amid-xbox-separation-2000719885\">According to Kotaku<\/a>, an Xbox spokesperson shared the following statement: &#8220;Double Fine fully returned to independent management earlier this week, with their IP, catalog, and runway for their next games. As they begin their next chapter as an independent studio, we look forward to seeing what they create next.&#8221; The studio&#8217;s current runway is unclear. Shortly after exiting Xbox, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.eurogamer.net\/double-fine-compulsion-games-statement-xbox-restructuring\">Double Fine confirmed it would go back to being an independent studio<\/a> and preserve its history and culture.<\/p>\n<p><span class=\"injection_placeholder\" data-position=\"1\"><\/span><\/p>\n<p>While at Xbox, Double Fine released <a href=\"https:\/\/www.eurogamer.net\/games\/psychonauts-2\">Psychonauts 2<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.eurogamer.net\/keeper-review\">Keeper<\/a>, and the multiplayer pottery game <a href=\"https:\/\/www.eurogamer.net\/psychonauts-studios-pottery-themed-party-brawler-kiln-xbox-playstation-and-pc\">Kiln<\/a>. As a high-profile studio known for off-beat games with a ton of heart, it&#8217;s likely the team will be attempting to keep its spirit alive through similar projects, but this round of cuts will no doubt put more pressure on the remaining employees. Here&#8217;s hoping there&#8217;s a bright future ahead of the studio despite everything.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Home News Double Fine hit with layoffs after exiting Xbox &#8211; &#8220;The people we are losing were all important&#8221; &#8220;These actions are not taken lightly.&#8221; Image credit: Double Fine Productions News by Fran Ruiz Contributor Published on July 29, 2026 14 comments Follow Keeper (2025) Nearly a month after it was announced Xbox was cutting [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[226,253],"class_list":["post-2067110","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized","tag-crawlmanager","tag-eurogamer-net"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2067110","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=2067110"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2067110\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=2067110"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=2067110"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=2067110"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}