The lights are on
BioWare Austin, the developer behind Star Wars The Old Republic, continues to shed employees. Reports say the studio saw layoffs today. These layoffs are part of the on-going restructuring EA announced back in May.
Gamasutra reported that executive producer Rich Vogel left the company today. BioWare would not confirm the number of employees let go today, but did pass along the following statement to Game Informer:
As announced in May and detailed at E3, the BioWare/Austin team is refining Star Wars: The Old Republic to continue to grow the game and the service.
As with the launch of any MMO, the size and skillset of the teams needed to maintain the game is different than the ones that built it. Starting in May, there have been staff reductions in the BioWare Austin studio. Some people have been platooned to other projects at BioWare Austin and EA SPORTS/Austin. Others have been released – qualifying personnel receive severance and outplacement assistance.
BioWare Austin is currently staffed to ensure the continued delivery of new, high quality game content for The Old Republic, and at a more frequent cadence. In the weeks ahead, we will announce plans for growing SWTOR with new content, new players and new ways to play.
Subscriber numbers for The Old Republic continue to dip. In May, EA reported a 400,000 drop from 1.7 million to 1.3 million.
[Source: Gamasutra]
This sucks. I don't like the fact that SWOTOR became an MMO, but still...
Meh, not surprised, was a sub-par MMO that leaned on it's license to sell copies and it's story shtick. I wouldn't be surprised if there are less than a million subscribers and even less active players. I know I over-estimated the games value and had a 3 month sub going which went for about a month and a half after I stopped playing.
lame!
now , they're is pratically no hope for SWTOR to continue with this and a big loss of players. and the new additions coming most likely wont entertain alot. IN MY OPINION.
By refining, I take it that they of course meant "ruining" and therefore "killing" the game. At least, that's what it will continue to do if they "shed" more members. >_>
That stinks. I hope they find jobs soon.
SWTOR doesn't seem to be getting much good press as of late. I can't imagine a single player KotOR 3 would have gotten anywhere close to as much criticism.