Midway confirms Chicago layoffs

As the holiday glut of blockbuster hits arrive in stores, publishers and studios find themselves with less work for their developers to handle. As a result, a number of developers are rewarded for their toils in getting games out the door with a pink slip for the holidays.

Midway today confirmed to GameSpot a number of layoffs at its Chicago studio. Despite troubling recent results from the publisher, it was the completion of work on major projects such as Blitz: The League II and Mortal Kombat vs. DC Universe (as well as support work for Midway LA's TNA iMPACT) that was blamed for the cuts.

"As large projects are completed, it is expected for any multiteam studio to evaluate the appropriate staffing levels and team composition needed going forward," the representative said. "As a result, a small number of employees here in Chicago have been impacted and others reassigned. No other changes are being made at this time. Our Chicago studio will continue to be the home of the Mortal Kombat team, and we have several support groups and major prototype teams working in the facility as well."

For more on the finished games, check out GameSpot's review of Blitz: The League II and previous coverage of Mortal Kombat vs. DC Universe, which arrives in stores on November 16.