Auroch Digital, the UK studio behind the recently released Warhammer 40,000: Boltgun II and the upcoming Warhammer Survivors, has announced a significant reduction in its workforce. Approximately 25% of the staff have been laid off as part of a restructuring effort. The studio confirmed these layoffs in a public statement, which has since been deleted from their social media channels on LinkedIn and Twitter. This news follows the launch of Boltgun II and precedes the November release of Warhammer Survivors.
In their statement, Auroch Digital acknowledged the creative successes of their 2024 titles, including Boltgun II and Starship Troopers: Ultimate Bug War. However, the studio cited prevailing market conditions, which have impacted numerous other developers, as a reason for the current situation. The studio expressed apologies to the affected employees and appealed to industry partners and colleagues for potential hiring opportunities, highlighting the team's diverse experience across various game development projects.
Despite the layoffs, Auroch Digital has assured that post-launch development for both Boltgun II and Warhammer Survivors will continue. The unusual aspect of this situation is the rapid deletion of the initial layoff announcements. While studio closures and staff reductions have become unfortunately common in the industry, the retraction of public statements within a day of their posting is rare. The reasons behind the removal of the posts remain unclear, though it has been suggested they may have been posted prematurely or in error. Rock Paper Shotgun has reached out to Auroch Digital for further comment and clarification.