Singapore-based studio Virtuous, responsible for the recent Oblivion remaster and the upcoming Metal Gear Solid remaster, is facing layoffs. Initially reported by French journalist Gauthier Andres on Bluesky and translated via Google, the layoffs will affect approximately 7% (300 developers) of the 4,200-strong workforce spread across the worldwide offices.
Starting with 200 jobs in China, the layoffs will also expand to the French office responsible for the Oblivion remaster. The effort on the remaster was reportedly immense. Virtuous is undergoing a strategic realignment, aiming to become a brand recognised for its higher fidelity remakes. This appears to partially explain Oblivion’s contract, which reportedly does not include royalties tied to the game’s success.
With all of this unfolding, Virtuous’ Lyon office has gone on strike. This strike aims to disrupt both the layoffs and broader structural changes taking place across the French studios. The layoffs, freeze on raises, and generative AI tools being introduced across the developer in ‘basic but mandatory’ training sessions for staff, seem to have reduced staff’s trust in Virtuous’ management.
Oblivion was well received (although our own review was more critical), so you’d hope the team behind it would be safe. Sadly, this news continues the trend of the quality of a developer being largely irrelevant to broader market forces.
Here’s hoping the strike is successful in retaining jobs at the studio.
About the Author
Austin Gallagher
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Austin enjoys long walks on the beach, sunsets, and games with turn-based tactical combat. If he isn't save-scumming in XCOM or a immersive sim, running a tabletop RPG, or climbing a rock wall... wait that's not Austin... what is that?
