Relic Entertainment, renowned for their work on titles such as Company of Heroes, Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War, and Age of Empires IV, has recently announced a series of job cuts. This decision comes on the heels of the news that the studio regained its independence after being under Sega's ownership for nearly two decades. The exact number of layoffs remains undisclosed, though external development producer Robyn Smale has indicated that 41 employees have been impacted.
The studio articulated on LinkedIn that this move aims to secure Relic's future in an unpredictable gaming industry. Just a week prior, Relic revealed their transition to an independent entity following their purchase from Sega by an unnamed investor. This shift marks Relic's first step back into independence since being acquired by THQ twenty years ago, and later by Sega in 2013. During its time with Sega, Relic contributed to the development of Age of Empires IV and released sequels for both Dawn of War and Company of Heroes.
Simultaneously, Sega Europe disclosed that it too had made significant staff reductions across several teams, including the developers behind the Total War series, Creative Assembly. These layoffs followed the discontinuation of the Hyenas project, which had previously led to job losses.
Relic had already experienced a notable reduction in their workforce in May of the previous year, where over 120 employees were laid off. At that time, both Relic and Sega attributed these actions to industry-wide challenges necessitating a concentration on fundamental franchises.
Despite these challenges, the developers maintain a positive outlook on the future of Relic, believing that the restructuring will fortify the studio’s capacity to create exceptional gaming experiences for their audience around the globe.
In their message concerning the layoffs, Relic expressed their regret over parting ways with affected employees and assured that those affected would be provided with severance packages, benefits, and assistance in finding new job opportunities.
In terms of future endeavors, Relic has pledged to continue its support for Company of Heroes 3, with an update for the game scheduled for release soon. Nonetheless, the studio has yet to unveil plans for any forthcoming projects.