007 First Light, Hitman Developer IO Interactive Announces Layoffs After 'Relationship With an External Partner' on Fantasy Project Ends

007 First Light and Hitman developer IO Interactive has announced layoffs aft an unexpected setback revolving astir its upcoming phantasy game, which was reportedly acceptable to beryllium published by Xbox.

The Danish developer took to societal media to corroborate that a narration with an "external partner" that was moving connected the studio's upcoming phantasy crippled had ended. As a result, IO Interactive is laying disconnected an unconfirmed fig of staff, but it insisted it remained committed to supporting those who are impacted.

It is believed that these layoffs are unrelated to the palmy merchandise of 007 First Light, which IOI celebrated successful the aforesaid post.

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Here's IO's connection successful full:

Dear gaming community,For a bully while, it has been each affirmative quality from IO Interactive. We stay humbled and honored by the effect to our latest outing with a young, unproven Bond. A bold caller communicative and a instrumentality connected 1 of the astir celebrated characters successful entertainment, which the satellite has embraced with love.However, contiguous we person to stock immoderate much downbeat news. A narration with an outer spouse connected our ain IP, Project Fantasy, has travel to an end. This means we person to accommodate to this caller world and its short-term consequences, including staffing decisions, which is what is happening arsenic we constitute this update, and we are afloat committed to supporting those affected done this challenging transition.Project Fantasy is simply a game, a world, and an IP that we perfectly emotion and stay 100% committed to, present and successful the future. This fantastic beingness volition spot the airy of day.

Although IO Interactive did not explicitly sanction the outer partner, Project Fantasy was reportedly acceptable to beryllium published by Xbox. According to a leaked papers from the FTC vs. Microsoft proceedings successful 2023, Microsoft had the crippled (then known arsenic Project Dragon) listed arsenic an exclusive for Xbox and PC. It besides stated that the rubric would beryllium published by Xbox Game Studios.

The IOI quality besides comes up what are expected to beryllium important restructuring astatine Xbox. Microsoft is readying a "reset" for the Xbox brand, which volition reportedly see workplace closures, crippled cancellations, and wide layoffs. Unionized Xbox employees are attempting to propulsion backmost against the reset and cement protections for staff, but it remains to beryllium seen what volition happen.

Cade Onder is simply a freelancer for IGN's quality team. He covers each things entertainment, including gaming, film, and more. You tin find him connected Twitter @Cade_Onder.