The Callisto Protocol Dev Striking Distance Studios Lays Off More Than 30 Staff

The developer behind The Callisto Protocol, Striking Distance Studios, has laid off 32 employees from its staff. Questions began after several LinkedIn posts appeared, and the layoffs were later confirmed by the studio.

In a statement to IGN, Striking Distance Studios said, “Striking Distance Studios and KRAFTON have implemented strategic changes that realign the studio’s priorities to better position its current and future projects for success.”

The developer continued, “Unfortunately, these changes have impacted 32 employees. Honoring the invaluable contributions of each departing team member with material support in the form of outplacement services and meaningful severance packages is our top priority during this difficult moment.”

Striking Distance Studios is the latest video game developer to enact employee layoffs. Over the past year, other studios such as Electronic Arts, Embracer Group, and Relic Entertainment have let developers go in large numbers. The layoffs come at a time of great consolidation in the games industry, and it remains to be seen if a similar fate will meet any of Activision Blizzard’s workers if and when Microsoft’s pending purchase is allowed to close.

The Callisto Protocol received its final story DLC back in June called Final Transmission. In GameSpot’s The Callisto Protocol review, we said, “Though it starts off on a strong note, The Callisto Protocol’s focus on action-heavy spectacles fails to adequately explore its horror and overcrowds its weak combat mechanics.”