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Vicarious Visions Hit With Layoffs, FreeStyle Games Future In Doubt
The fallout from Activision's labor reducing efforts continue today, with reports that the company's Vicarious Visions studio has been hit with layoffs. According to Develop, "around fifty" employees have been let go from Vicarious, which has largely worked on licensed games and Wii and DS ports of existing Activision brands.
Activision is looking to reduce its workforce by 500 positions. Subsidiary 7 Studios has also been shuttered in this move.
Elsewhere in the company, doubt remains. FreeStyle Games, which created the excellent, if commercially disappointing, DJ Hero 1 & 2 appears to be uncertain about its future. Following rumors that Activision was closing FreeStyle, Eurogamer obtained a statement from Freestyle's design director David Osbourn, creative director Jamie Jackson and commercial director Chris Lee. It reads:
"We're actively working with Activision on various options going forward for the studio. No decisions have been taken at this stage. We appreciate everyone's support through this process and will be as open and transparent as possible as soon as we know more."
Here's hoping they get a chance to make another game, DJ Hero has been one of the bright lights in the stagnant music genre.
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