Take-Two Reportedly Shutting Down Roll7 and Intercept Games, Private Division Suffers Layoffs

May 2, 2024 Vaseline stjohnson 0

More details have emerged about the ongoing layoffs at Take-Two Interactive, with reports suggesting the publisher has closed two independent-sized studios.

Bloomberg reported that it has seen internal documentation revealing that British developer Roll7, known for the OlliOlli and Rollerdrome series, is planning to close, and that the publisher is working on severance deals for affected staff.

The documents also detail plans to shut down Intercept Games, the Seattle-based studio behind Kerbal Space Program 2.

Yesterday, GameIndustry.biz reported on a WARN notice filed in Washington state, revealing that a Take-Two office in Seattle will close this June, affecting 70 employees. Bloomberg noted that this is roughly the same number of staff working at Intercept Games.

Both studios are part of Private Division, Take-Two’s label for publishing independent games. The label formed Intercept Games in 2020 after taking over development of Kerbal Space Program 2 and acquired Roll7 in 2021.

Bloomberg reported that other Private Division employees have been affected by the layoffs, and a source said GameIndustry.biz that the “vast majority” of the label’s teams in Seattle, New York, Las Vegas and Munich have been laid off.

When asked for confirmation, Take-Two issues the same statement as yesterday, included below in full:

“On April 16, Take-Two announced a cost reduction program to identify efficiencies across its business and improve the company’s margin profile, while continuing to invest for growth. As part of these efforts, the company is streamlining its portfolio and eliminating several projects in development and streamlining its organizational structure, which will eliminate headcount and reduce future hiring needs. The Company does not provide additional details on this program.

“On April 18, Private Division successfully released No Rest for the Wicked from Moon Studio. The label continues to update Kerbal Space Program 2 and plans to release Tales of the Shire: A The Lord of the Rings from Wētā Workshop Game Studio. on the second half of 2024.”

Take-Two announced last month that it would lay off 5% of its entire staff, about 580 people, in 2024 as part of the publisher’s third cost-cutting program since February 2023.