Major layoffs at Wild Man dev

Just days after launching a Kickstarter campaign for a new RPG/RTS hybrid called Wild Man, developer Gas Powered Games has enacted a round of company-wide layoffs. CEO Chris Taylor confirmed the news to Polygon today.

"These layoffs are substantial, but it's not everyone," Taylor said. "We still have a fully functioning company, IT, HR, Operations, etc. And have retained some key people."

Taylor told Joystiq the layoffs total around 40 employees.

Taylor said he will release a Kickstarter video explaining the current situation to backers in the coming days. In this video he will ask supporters "if I should continue and then rehire people, or terminate the campaign now."

The Kickstarter campaign for Wild Man--asking for $1.1 million--went live on Monday. At press time, the fund stands at $175,000 pledged from more than 3,500 backers.

Taylor explained to GameSpot this week that he is betting the entire company's future on the success of Wild Man.

"Everything I have ever worked for in my entire career--in my entire life--it culminates in this one event," he said at the time. "I am absolutely all in. That's it. What victory is worth achieving if there's no consequence of failure?"