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Recently Laid Off Griptonite Employee Speaks Out
This morning we ran a story about layoffs at Glu Mobile and subsidiary studio Griptonite. When we reached out to Glu for more information, we were told that the Kirkland, Washington location would still be home to multiple development teams. Following publication, an employee who was laid off yesterday reached out to us to shed some light on the situation. Given the sensitive nature of the comments, this person has asked for anonymity.
According to our source, after 25 percent of Griptonite's staff was laid off last November, Glu CEO Niccolo de Masi visited the offices to deliver a message. Should any further layoffs be coming, de Masi would be included. The coffers were supposedly full and the company was apparently debt free. Yesterday saw 50 percent of Griptonite's staff laid off, and our source tells us that Glu Kirkland general manager Josh Sell "delivered the brief layoff statement with an unnerving smile on his face."
Our source tells us that the only employees seemingly untouched by these cuts are middle managers handling outsourcing to India. Most of the artists and art direction staff were part of the cuts. The studio has two games nearing completion.
This information, while not necessarily incompatible with the statement we received from Glu this morning, does provide a clearer understanding of how the cuts will impact Griptonite. If our source is correct, and Griptonite's staff is comprised of only middle management, it will either need to restaff or close. Glu's sincerity will only be known after these games ship and Griptonite is either reinforced or shut down.
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