The recent spate of job losses across the video game industry in recent weeks and months is set to continue at Worms creator-turned-indie publishing powerhouse Team17. The UK company behind Worms, Blasphemous, Overcooked, Dredge and more is reportedly facing “significant” job losses and has seen its CEO depart as it looks to restructure.
Eurogamer reported that Team17 staff were informed of the restructuring and consultation process in a company meeting this morning, with the consultation period due to last until November.
Team17 later confirmed the plans to VG247, as well as confirming that CEO Michael Pattison, who joined in late 2021 after almost a decade handling third-party dev and publisher relations at PlayStation, had departed after almost two years.
"In response to the reports concerning the departure of Michael Pattison from Team17, we can confirm we have amicably parted ways with Michael," a Team17 representative said. “We can also confirm that we have sadly entered into a period of consultation today within Team17 Digital, with Astragon and Storytoys remaining unaffected by the restructuring plans."
Most of the publisher’s QA team is said to be affected, with 50 staff - predominantly junior QA analysts - at risk as Team17 reportedly looks to outsource quality assurance. It is currently unclear which other departments will be affected by the restructuring plans, and how many staff will be impacted.
Team17 laid off devs across its art and design teams in March as part of a stated “re-alignment”, with staff told at the time that additional layoffs would not happen.
Last year, a number of Team17 staff alleged poor working conditions at the company, including reports of low pay, long hours and
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