LucasArts Cuts Staff

Kotaku, Gamasutra, and the LA Times are reporting significant restructuring at LucasArts with approximately one third of its staff suffering layoffs. LA Times updated its initial article to state that the layoffs majorly affected game programmers, and excluded its marketing department. Kotaku's Micheal McWhertor reports "an estimated 60 people let go from development and 25 from external production and QA getting the employment vibro-ax."

At the moment it is uncertain what effect, if any, this news will have on The Old Republic. However, it is always unfortunate when people lose their jobs. We here at Darth Hater wish the best of luck to all those affected by this news.
Tags: LucasArts

Comments

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  • #34
    Bummer the programmers got the s-can, instead of some of the marketing department. Really how much marketing do you need, over programming, for Star Wars?
  • #31
    Let's just hope the genius who's responsible for the jedi "wizard" got canned.
  • #33
    I second this.
  • #30
    As a number of people pointed out in the Kotaku thread, this is actually fairly common practice in the game development world. You work a few years, your game ships, then you and half the team get fired and go work on your next game someplace else.
  • #29
    I must say first off especially in economic times such as these it may be tough to fathom what's going on and I do truly feel for the people that have been laid off. When a new President, CEO, Manager comes into a company there is always a lot of change and shakeups that go on due to what ever may be in his/her contract. This could certainly point the way things look to me in "cutting the fat" and increasing the productivity of the remaining staff. Being that EA, Bioware, Ubisoft, and almost every other major studio have made cuts in the last year this shouldn't come as a terrible shock since the industry is slumping a little. LA has also stated that they want to "inhouse" SW games in the future and what this may be is cuts in some of the other areas that have produced the Monkey Island series and other games. As stated below especially with this not affecting the marketing and distribution points of the brand, they might even be gearing towards moving resources to this side for a massive push when SWTOR releases. Also don't forget Lucas has made a couple of key acquisitions of staff in the last couple months as well with Clint Hocking of Ubisoft coming on board as creative director of as yet unannounced SW title. Sorry for the indulgence but as a Business/Technology Grad I tend to speculate a lot and these just might be some ideas. Once again my deepest sympathies to those let go and best of luck.
  • #28
    I don't see how this would affect The Old Republic, at all - at least in terms of development. The actual development of the game is being done by BioWare. I'm not sure what the percentage of LA's input in the development process has been, thus far, but I bet it is very small. Probably just lore policing to make sure BioWare's implementations interact comfortably with the established lore.

    Now, if Marketing had taken a hit, I might be a little concerned. To this point, the most input I have seen on SWTOR from the LucasArts side has been with marketing. Rob Cowles, Mary Bihr, Jake Neri - all of these people come from either the marketing side, or in the case of Jake Neri, production; other than these few people - and possibly one other, I apologize if I left anyone on the LucasArts side out - the bulk of the SWTOR payload is being delivered by BioWare.

    Even if it turns out that this does not affect SWTOR in any way, as I suspect it won't, it is still tough to hear so many people have been laid off. I can only imagine how I would feel - and I know I would feel terrible.

    LucasArts hires very talented people. I think all of them will land on their feet somewhere. I wish them all luck as they make the transition.
  • #26
    Stupid crappy economy.
  • #24
    I don't exactly get what is going on here. When they announced they were no longer going to let other developers create new star wars games, I thought they planned on developing the games themselves. But with this recent cut back, it looks like they won't be doing that.

    Does this mean no more star wars games in the future? Or maybe they are selling the IP to someone?
  • #27
    Over Lucas's dead body. He would never sell the SW IP.
  • #32
    Agreed! Lucas would sooner die than let someone else have the IP, even if he does admit he's no longer in touch with the material. Star Wars is his baby, and will remain so until breath leaves his body.
  • #19
    Rather sad to see this news, hope those that got the vibro-axe will find jobs elsewhere.
  • #18
    Sucks for the people getting cut and I do feel sorry for them. However, I think this is a good move. There are plenty of worthy developers out there that would give their left ***** to work on Star Wars games so LA should get quality workmanship for warehouse prices. Again, great thing for LA.
  • #17
    I seriously doubt it will impact The Old Republic at all since both BioWare offices are doing 99% of the development, but it does look like the rumors of Force Unleashed 3 being canceled may have some weight now.
  • #15
    "LA Times updated its initial article to state that the layoffs majorly affected game programmers, and excluded its marketing department."

    Excluded its marketing department?!?

    Sssshhhhhocking!

    /end sarcasm


  • #14
    Thanks for all your hard work on The old Republic. It is sad to see anyone loose their employment.
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