Firaxis confirms staff reductions amid restructuring
Firaxis Games, the studio behind Civilization, has confirmed staff reductions as part of a restructuring and optimization effort, according to multiple industry reports. 2K characterized the changes as steps to improve “adaptability, collaboration, and creativity,” but has not disclosed the exact number of employees affected. Several former staff members who worked on Civilization VII and Marvel’s Midnight Suns have posted that they were laid off, and industry sources say the cuts may have impacted dozens of workers.
Key points
- 2K confirmed a “staff reduction” at Firaxis but did not specify numbers.
- Reports suggest “dozens” of employees were laid off; some former Firaxis staff have confirmed this on social media.
- The layoffs come after the February 2025 release of Civilization VII, which had a mixed reception and a slower start than expected.
- Firaxis continues to update Civilization VII with new content and fixes despite the restructuring.
- These cuts follow recent turmoil at another 2K studio, Cloud Chamber, raising broader questions about industry staffing strategies.
Context
Take-Two, Firaxis’ parent company, had still forecasted growth for the back half of 2025 despite delays to major titles like Grand Theft Auto VI, but publishers increasingly lean on restructures and layoffs as normal business practice when projects underperform or when they seek to reorient development teams.
Sources
Reporting consolidated from multiple outlets:
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