The Rock Band studio has also taken on the lead designer of BioShock 2 as its new design director.
Less than a month after it reported a deal with venture capital firm The Founder Group, Harmonix, the studio behind Guitar Hero, Rock Band and Dance Central, confirmed that it has laid off a number of employees. News of the layoffs came by way of tweets yesterday expressing sympathy for those affected by the cuts.
“We can confirm that a small number of Harmonix employees were let go today. This decision was made due to shifting staffing priorities for Harmonix’s multiple future projects,” a Harmonix rep told Polygon. A source claimed that roughly ten employees had been let go.
Harmonix recently ended its DLC release schedule for Rock Band but Foundry Group Managing Director Brad Feld said in March that the studio has three new projects in the works, each one “stunningly envisioned,” that left him “completely and totally blown away.” That may be a trifle hyperbolic, but it’s intriguing nonetheless.
It also came to light this morning that BioShock 2 Lead Designer Zak McClendon has joined Harmonix as Design Director. Prior to his stint at 2K Games, McClendon worked at Crystal Dynamics and Cinemaware on games including Defender of the Crown, Wings and Project: Snowblind.
Source: Polygon
