Oslo-based survival and MMO game developer Funcom has confirmed a round of redundancies following the huge success of "Dune: Awakening."
The company is restructuring as it moves on from development into long-term live operations and builds towards a big console launch in 2026.
Funcom Restructures After 'Dune: Awakening' Success
Funcom said that "Dune: Awakening" was the largest launch in its 32-year history, citing the strength of the game's early momentum. Nevertheless, the company told Gameindustrybiz that keeping and growing the title involves a shift in strategy.
To continue content creation, live updates, and coming console plans, the company stated that it needs to restructure its teams, a decision that regrettably entails staff cuts.
Funcom clarified:
"This difficult process is starting now, and we cannot yet determine the exact impact. We are working to find new opportunities for those affected. Our focus now is to provide these team members with the support and guidance they need, and we ask for your understanding at this time as we will not make further comments during this process."
What Will Fiuncom Offer After the Strategic Shift
Though Funcom did not release the figures of the affected employees, it highlighted its dedication to helping the staff undergo this shift. The organization clarified that there are initiatives to offer career counseling and fresh opportunities to the employees who were impacted.
The restructuring is designed to make sure that "Dune: Awakening" keeps expanding past its record-shattering launch. The open-world survival game, which reached one million players within two weeks of its June PC release, will come out on PlayStation 5 and Xbox next year.
According to The Gamer, the recent Funcom layoff is "hardly surprising" from what they have seen last year.
Tencent's Role in Funcom's Growth
Funcom has been owned by Tencent since 2020. Tencent executives ratified their close, hands-on effort to shore up the game's backend infrastructure and expand its global coverage. The partnership enabled Funcom to manage the massive influx of players and broaden its publishing reach globally, according to Yong-yi Zhu, VP, Tencent Games.
Zhu indicated that Tencent has no intentions to reduce investments in Western studios, although he admitted that the changing economics of the gaming sector can trigger selective adjustments.
Even with the tough layoffs, Funcom is committed to the long-term success of "Dune: Awakening." Consolidating resources and refining operations, the studio plans to push regular updates, add new features, and maintain player interaction for many years to come.
Originally published on Player One
Join the Conversation