Humble Games Announces 'Restructuring' Plans As Employees Get Laid Off

Just a heads up, "Restructuring" is spelled wrong.

What a real shame. I was hoping game pass releases would help studios to survive challenging times, but if Humble are not able to survive with so many GP releases, it does call into question whether that's a business model that can sustain development.
Either way it's sad to see more Devs out of work and looking for new jobs, I hope everyone affected land on their feet.

I am relieved humble bundle seems to be unaffected. I love that site. Hopefully the restructured studio can thrive.

Read "restructure" and immediately thought guess there wasn't enough profit for someone in management to get second BMW. So...time for layoffs.

@Titntin Game Pass is completely unsustainable business model (especially if are a gamer looking for quality experiences, not game boy level quality).

Absolutely believe Microsoft wants (especially nadella, since he's HUGE for pushing subscriptions) game pass to be $50+ a month. That's honestly only way for it to be a truly viable model. People can argue all they want it is great, etc. If game pass is such a wonderful, awesome, super profitable endeavor. Then why isn't every publisher banging the door down to get in.

Interesting considering IGN constantly harps on gaming companies for laying off developers. Maybe the economy actually does suck IGN and it isn't just some fat cat twiddling his fingers and laughing maniacally. Oh, how the turntables...

@Titntin Beware the Post hoc ergo propter hoc fallacy. Just because they were on Game Pass and they had to "restructure" doesn't automatically mean Game Pass caused it... Plenty of other devs who praise Game Pass for their success and giving them a spotlight they believed they'd never have had otherwise.

"But gaming hasn't kept up with inflation! Everything must cost more!"

Meanwhile: Customers stop buying everything even at current prices except for high income whales.

Nope, no recession here, best economy ever!

@Titntin Humble is a Publisher not a dev. They aren’t the ones the gamepass investments are aimed at. All the various dev companies are still functioning.

Since the work was outsourced, I suspect the parent company of Humble felt they were not getting a decent enough ROI. Everyone wants to publish the next stardew valley.

@Trmn8r No of course not mate, I did not try and link it to GP except to say that all income avenues appear to have been covered so its a shame that wasn't enough. That doesn't damn the GP publishing offering which still clearly gives studios exposure they can build on and cash they can rely on.
@Ryu_Niiyama Thanks for enlightening me, though to be fair, if I had read the article more closely I should have known! It certainly helps to know the devs are all OK

@Titntin Except you did "but if Humble are not able to survive with so many GP releases, it does call into question whether that's a business model that can sustain development." You are questioning GP as a model due to Humble not surviving.

@PassePartout aw sh1t, think you just broke the news to Fraser....

@Trmn8r Whatever, at this point, with you clearly reading whatever you wish to read, this conversation is pointless.
I've gone out of my way to make sure I wasn't 'blaming' GP. But its certainly a consideration as it was clearly a big part of how they managed expected income, so its worth factoring in to any look at how the budgets were managed.
I have many many reasons to question GP's viability without having to link it to the demise of Humble, and have expressed several times that I believe it has devalued games and is certainly a factor in why so many devs, studios and publishers are struggling. I chose not to renew last september and have never regretted that decision.

Have a great day.

@FraserG Nice of you to link to proof. But you know the modern landscape, once people have a conspiracy theory going, little things like 'the truth' are not going to derail it! I wish it were otherwise..

@Titntin thank you for literally questioning, then rejecting the GP model more extensively after again saying you don't.

@GuyinPA75 Game Boy quality? Lol don't even know where to begin with all that tripe...

You don't have to.

Anyone that looks at the offerings of Indie Pass...i mean Game Pass will see plethora of Enter the Gungeon and Short Hike, etc. And yes, I'm sure you will counter with, look, look, look, look, there are games like Atomic Heart. Yea, sure. For everyone of those there are hundreds of the Game Boy level quality and little kid games.

@Titntin Tintin, try not waste your time. People will argue for sake of arguing. Can say the sky is blue. They will come back at you with, not really, it's actually teal, or ocean blue, or heck not surprise me, if they say is green.

Facts and constructive criticism will NEVER apply to them.

@Deljo @FraserG @PassePartout That little exchange made my day in so, so, so, so many ways. Lol. That alone made it worth getting out of bed today.

@GuyinPA75 Ahh yes, but calling Game Pass games little kid Game Boy quality games and saying it's gonna be $50 a month is very constructive and factual lol!

Everything I said is factual. Plethora of what's offered on game pass is game boy level quality and kiddie games.

And to be a sustainable business model it will have to be $50 a month. Did they not just raise the price, again? If it is such a great and profitable deal for developers, why aren't every single publishers game on there? Why isn't Sony on there? Pretty sure Microsoft would not say no.