Layoffs rock THQ studios Kaos, Volition - Report

Yesterday, Sony shuttered three studios, sending home hundreds in the process. Today, the story is similar, as THQ studios Kaos and Volition have been rocked with more than 30 layoffs.

THQ has confirmed to Gamasutra that Red Faction and Saints Row studio Volition sent 16 new and long-term employees home this week. The Champaign, Ill., studio is currently working on new installments of the Red Faction and Saints Row franchises, as well as Insane, a collaborative project between the studio and film star Guilliermo Del Toro. Following the round of layoffs, 220 employees remain at Volition, says Gamasutra.

"Steps are being taken to ensure team members affected by the transition are treated with appropriate concern," THQ's statement reads. "The changes are not expected to affect any current or future titles in development with Volition."

Further, THQ told Gamasutra that the layoffs are nothing outside of regular activity for the publisher.

"We must adjust our workforce to fit the studio's current needs, which is a relatively common occurrence in the game development industry."

Also hit with layoffs this week was Homefront developer Kaos. The New York City studio released its near-future shooter on March 15. The game sold 375,000 units in North America on its launch day and racked up over a million in global sales during its debut week. According to the report, about 70 staffers remain at Kaos following the layoffs.

The first round of downloadable content for Homefront will arrive on the Xbox 360 first, and according to THQ, the layoffs will not affect the launch of that DLC or the Homefront sequel.

"Kaos has a dedicated team in place that will continue to support Homefront with an ongoing, robust DLC and content plan, as well as working on preproduction for future games," reads the statement.

For more on the titles mentioned above, check out GameSpot's previous coverage of Red Faction: Armageddon, Saints Row: The Third, Insane, and Homefront.