Poland’s 11 Bit Studios has laid off an unknown number of staff.
In a post on its website, the company said that it had cancelled work on Project 8, which was to be the outfit’s first console-focused game. Work on Project 8 began back in 2018; by 2024, 37 members of staff were attached to the project.
11 Bit reckons it has spent PLN 48.4 million ($11.8 million) on the game to date.
This cancellation was the result of a “thorough evaluation” of the title. Project 8 has seemingly experienced several setbacks, including disruption during COVID-19.
“Our vision for Project 8, which was intended to be our first title designed specifically for console gamers, was bold and exciting. However, it was conceived under very different market conditions, when narrative-driven, story-rich games held stronger appeal,”president of the board Przemysław Marszał, explained.
He continued: “When assessing a project, the Management Board always considers its development progress, including internal reviews and independent surveys. We also factor in market analyses and the game’s sales and marketing potential. Unfortunately, in this case, our findings revealed unresolved issues and challenges that would require further extensions of the production timeline and corresponding budget increases to address. This, coupled with revised sales forecasts, largely reflecting the changing market environment, raised significant doubts about the project’s overall profitability,”