Major Layoffs Hit WildStar Studio, Chinese Release Canceled

WildStar developer Carbine Studios has confirmed a round of layoffs. The job cuts come as part of a "reorganization" with the aim of supporting the PC MMO in the US and Europe specifically. As a result of this new western focus, WildStar's launch in China has been canceled.

Another contributing factor that led to the layoffs was the "overall performance" of WildStar since release in 2014, Carbine said in a statement on the game's website.

"Unfortunately, as a result of these changes, we've had to reduce staff," Carbine said. "These cuts are directly tied to WildStar's evolution from a product in development to a live title, to the cancellation of work to bring WildStar to China, and to the overall performance of WildStar since launch in 2014.

"These kinds of decisions are exceptionally difficult," the statement continues. "The talented and passionate professionals who are impacted by these cuts have been valuable team members and respected colleagues. We wish everyone well for the future and will be providing severance and employment search assistance."

According to Polygon, around 70 staffers were laid off, amounting to about 40 percent of the studio's total headcount.

Carbine went on to say the studio remains committed to WildStar and plans to deliver a "significant update" to the game in the coming weeks. Additionally, Carbine has plans for more community events, while the studio is also working on unspecified "new content" that will be discussed in the future.

WildStar arrived in June 2014 as a subscription-based game. It switched to a free-to-play business model in September 2015, but it appears that move did not attract as many new players as Carbine hoped.

In other sobering news, WildStar product director Mike Donatelli recently announced that he has cancer.