After a nasty 2023 for games industry labor, 2024 is off to a similar start. We already saw significant layoffs at Twitch last year, and now there’s even more grim news ahead, as the Amazon-owned platform is letting 35% of its staff go.
A recent report from Bloomberg says Twitch is due to lose around 500 of its workforce. This news was originally sourced from people who are “familiar with the plans.”
Since this report, the company has issued a statement about the layoffs. A recent blog post acknowledges the “difficult decision” Twitch had to make, in which there will be a reduction in the “size of our workforce.” It also confirms the number of job losses will be 500.
Adding to this, CEO Dan Clancy says there will be a livestream going ahead on Thursday, January 11 at 1 pm PT for those who have questions. There’s also a section that addresses those who feel the decision will affect their role. Those who are not affected will still be sent an email from Clancy.
When will it end?
This also comes just shortly after Unity announced it was laying off 25% of its staff, which accounts for around 1,800 jobs. Indeed, this latest developer from Twitch could set another precedent – carrying on from 2023 – in terms of job uncertainty in the video game and adjacent industries.
We already experienced a ton of job losses last year, with thousands of employees being let go from otherwise lucrative development houses and publishers. Worse still, entire studios – such as TimeSplitters outlet Free Radical Design – had their doors closed for good.
We’re only into the second week of the new year, and things are not looking good for those employed in video games. This is all in spite of the fact that the industry at large saw rising profits in 2023, according to data from Statista.
Hopefully, there’ll be something on the horizon quickly for the hundreds at Twitch that are affected by the decision.
