Less than a month after its release, the entire development team behind the first-person bullet-hell platforming adventure game Luna Abyss has been laid off. Publisher Kwalee confirmed the news, stating the decision was outside of the team's control.
Kwalee Labs CEO Hollie Emery shared the announcement on LinkedIn, describing the development of Luna Abyss as the "highlight of our careers" despite facing "many challenges along the way." Emery indicated that the entire team is now available for new opportunities. While no specific reasons were given for the layoffs, Emery expressed pride in what the small team accomplished with the game, noting the difficulty of achieving positive review scores in its genre. It is presumed that the game did not meet internal targets.
Luna Abyss, Kwalee's first in-house developed title from Kwalee Labs, tasks players with exploring a derelict megastructure from a prisoner's perspective. The game has been noted for its striking art direction and imposing environments, drawing comparisons to titles like Returnal and Nier.
Emery also shared links to affected team members on LinkedIn, encouraging support for those impacted by the layoffs, which appear to signal a closure of the studio itself. The situation highlights the precarious nature of game development, even for titles that receive critical and industry praise.