11 Bit Studios, an established game developer based in Poland, has recently made some workforce reductions, although the exact number of affected staff members remains undisclosed.
The announcement came via the company’s website, where they revealed the cancellation of “Project 8.” This project was anticipated to be their pioneering venture into the world of console gaming. The journey for Project 8 began back in 2018, and by 2024, the team had grown to 37 dedicated members.
To date, 11 Bit Studios reports that they have poured PLN 48.4 million, equivalent to $11.8 million, into this endeavor. The decision to cancel the project didn’t come lightly and followed a detailed and meticulous evaluation. It’s worth noting that Project 8 faced a series of challenges along the way, one of which was the disruption caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Speaking candidly, the board president, Przemysław Marszał, shared, “We had big dreams for Project 8. It was supposed to be our debut game crafted specifically with console players in mind. The idea was ambitious and thrilling. However, the times have changed since the project was first conceived. Back then, games that were narrative-driven and rich in storytelling held much greater allure.”
Marszał further elaborated, “When we’re looking at a project, lots of factors come into play. We consider how the project has progressed, gathering feedback from both internal reviews and independent surveys. We also scrutinize market trends and the potential for the game’s sales and marketing. Regrettably, our findings this time pointed to persistent issues and obstacles that would have required prolonging the production timeline and ramping up the budget. Couple these with the updated sales forecasts—reflecting today’s shifting market environment—and we were led to serious concerns about the project’s potential profitability.”
