Independent game studio Heart Machine has laid off nearly its entire staff following the withdrawal of publisher funding for an unannounced project. Founder Alx Preston expressed uncertainty about the studio's future survival. This marks the third round of layoffs for the company since late 2025. The situation highlights the precarious nature of publisher-dependent development in the current industry climate. This event contributes to a significant year for job losses in the gaming sector.
Seattle, Washington
https://shattered.io/heart-machine-hyper-light-drifter-layoffs-2026/