NEWS – Gears of War: E-Day is only days away from launch, but the mood inside The Coalition is far from celebratory as several employees fear that Xbox’s earlier layoffs may soon reach their studio.
Early access for Gears of War: E-Day has begun and the first reviews have been favorable. That has not given the development team a genuine sense of security. In an investigation by Eurogamer UK, several current workers described an atmosphere of uncertainty following Xbox’s September job cuts.
Microsoft officially describes The Coalition as one of Xbox Game Studios’ flagship teams. Some employees do not believe that status will protect them, particularly after major cuts affected other internal studios.
“It is difficult to believe what they say”
The departure of narrative director Juan Vaca has added to the tension. Vaca previously worked on titles including The Walking Dead and The Wolf Among Us and was regarded as an important figure within the studio.
“It is difficult to believe what they say,” one anonymous employee said about reassuring statements from management. Another developer described it as deeply demoralizing when someone spends years working on a game only to lose the chance to participate in its final stretch just before release.
Workers fear that even commercial success may not offer real protection. After recent decisions involving other Xbox studios, many feel that strong reviews and sales are no longer enough to guarantee job security.
The Metacritic bonus has created another concern
The anxiety is also linked to a financial bonus tied to the game’s Metacritic score. Gears of War: E-Day currently has an average rating of 87, but the reported incentive will only be paid to people who remain full-time employees of The Coalition when the payment is made, expected at the end of October.
According to Eurogamer’s information, this has led some staff members to fear that Microsoft could carry out another round of layoffs immediately after launch and before the bonus is distributed. One source said the team has adopted an unusual attitude of not celebrating the game until at least three months have passed.
Microsoft declined to comment on the claims gathered by Eurogamer. The next few weeks may therefore be tense not only because of the game’s commercial performance, but also because of the uncertain future facing the people who created it.
Source: 3DJuegos
