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Visual Concepts Lays Off 30 Employees Amid Restructuring
Just as NBA 2K11 is gearing up for another title defense against upstart NBA Elite, its development studio has lost a significant number of employees to layoffs.
"In order to properly align its resources with its current and future goals, and to continue to develop games as efficiently as possible, 2K Sports has eliminated approximately 30 positions at its Visual Concepts studio," Take Two VP of corporate communications and public affairs Alan Lewis told Industry Gamers. "These reductions will not affect 2K Sports’ ability to create and deliver AAA titles, including its upcoming release of NBA 2K11."
Visual Concepts hasn't reported which departments were hit by the cuts, but the likely targets are the NHL 2K or MLB 2K staffs. After years of slumping sales and critical busts, 2K Sports decided to forgo bringing its hockey title to the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 this year to recalibrate its approach. Though the Wii version has sold well, EA Sports is entering the market with NHL Slapshot this year and odds are some of those sales are going to be lost to competition. Its possible 2K could decide to shut down its hockey operations altogether.
The MLB 2K series has also had trouble gaining critical acclaim, which stings further considering the considerable amount of money 2K Sports invested to become the sole multi-console MLB game. In 2009 Take Two unexpectedly cut its profit estimate primarily because its baseball title didn't meet expectations.
With the sports game development marketing shrinking further every year, we wish the departed the best in finding new work.
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