Telltale Games Faces Staff Layoffs as Industry Grapples with Unions

In recent developments at Telltale Games, the studio is once again making headlines for laying off staff, marking a grim five-year anniversary since it significantly reduced its workforce back in 2018. Former staffer and cinematic artist Jonah Huang shared insights about this situation on Xitter, and the company has now confirmed aspects of his story. However, they have not disclosed the exact number of job cuts that have taken place.

The studio cited “current market conditions” as the reason for these layoffs and expressed their commitment to storytelling. They stated that they are actively working to support all those impacted by these decisions.

While it remains uncertain how these layoffs will affect ongoing projects, such as Telltale’s Expanse adaptations and The Wolf Among Us 2, the company insists that all projects currently in development are still in production. No further updates regarding this matter are available at this time.

It’s important to note that Telltale Games’ staff reductions are just the latest in a series of mass layoffs within the video game industry. Other major companies, including Epic, Creative Assembly, and Team 17, have also made significant cuts in their workforce. Microsoft notably laid off almost 10,000 workers across various studios and departments, attributing the decision to the global economy and changing consumer spending patterns.

In response to these layoffs, Jonah Huang took to Xitter to address a perennial issue in the video game industry: unionization. He called on his peers to participate in the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees rates and working conditions survey, hosted by GameWorkers.org. Huang’s perspective is informed by his second layoff from Telltale, where he was originally hired in 2015 and later returned to work on The Wolf Among Us 2.

Huang expressed his desire for the company’s success and called upon fellow game developers to advocate for better working conditions. Unionization, he suggested, can help in achieving fairer terms of dismissal and pressure executives to prioritize the welfare of workers.

The concept of unionization within the gaming industry has gained considerable momentum in recent times. Earlier in the year, QA staff at ZeniMax formed the largest union in the gaming industry, with the approval of parent company Microsoft. Sega of America employees also formed the Allied Employees Guild Improving Sega union, consisting of over 200 staff from various departments.

Additionally, Genshin Impact voice actors voiced their support for unionization after experiencing months of alleged unpaid work. The growing interest in unionization reflects the widespread desire among game developers for improved labor conditions and job security.

This recent news from Telltale Games underscores the ongoing challenges faced by both workers and companies within the video game industry, sparking conversations about the need for collective action to ensure fair treatment and job stability.