Club Penguin may not be one of the first games you think about when it comes to virtual worlds, but that’s kind of a blind spot; the title has been operating now in the family-friendly market for a decade. Unfortunately, the developers behind the title have taken a bit of a blow now, with Disney reportedly laying off as many as 30 employees in the US, Canada, and the UK.
According to a local news source, the Brighton office is to be shut down outright, which leaves the developer with its LA office and its Canadian office. There’s no official word on numbers or what caused the layoffs beyond a general statement by Disney Interactive about streamlining teams:
Disney Interactive continually looks to find ways to create efficiencies and streamline our operations. As part of this ongoing process, we are consolidating a small number of teams and are undergoing a targeted reduction in workforce.
A former Club Penguin artist issued a blog post last week discussing the game’s growth curve and inevitable decline.
Our condolences to everyone affected by these layoffs.
[Source: Castanet and Screenhog via Gamasutra; thanks to Shawn for the tip!]