Codemasters confirms job losses, but doesn't expect Grid 2 and F1 series will be affected
Reports suggest up to 80 made redundant.
UK publisher and developer Codemasters is currently in consultation with a number of staff who were told yesterday they were at risk of losing their jobs.
Codemasters confirmed to Eurogamer this morning that the proposed layoffs are not company wide, but internet reports suggest 80 people will be made redundant. A restructure of the business, with particular regard to publishing and digital, is ongoing.
A spokesperson for the company told us "it is not anticipated" that development of core PC and console games, such as Grid 2 and the annual F1 series, will be affected.
Codemasters issued the following statement:
“As the Company realigns its operations to focus on areas of increased strategic importance and decrease resources in areas that are not delivering value for the business, the Company has proposed the restructure of certain aspects within its digital development and publishing units in line with future product strategy.
"As a result of the proposed restructure, the Company has therefore entered into a period of collective consultation with the affected employees.
"The restructure is not company-wide and is not anticipated to impact the development of its core console and PC titles such as Grid 2 or its annual Formula One title."
According to a GamesIndustry International source, the majority of the redundancies are at Codemasters' Southam headquarters, which houses over 500 staff. At Southam is the Racing studio, responsible for Dirt and Grid, the Online department, support functions such as HR, marketing, localisation and QA, and the Central Technology team, which develops the in-house Ego engine.
As GI points out, Codemasters' statement suggests the Online department will be hit hardest by the restructure.