The recent news of all 36 employees of Humble Games publishing being laid off has sent shockwaves through the gaming industry. Business developer Nicola Kwan reportedly informed the staff at 9am one morning that “the company is shutting down,” leaving many employees uncertain about their future. However, Humble Games disputes this claim and states that they are undergoing restructuring rather than a full shutdown.
According to a statement made by Humble Games to Game Developer, the layoffs are attributed to “challenging economic times for indie game publishing,” leading to the difficult decision to restructure operations. Chris Radley, who was Humble’s creative lead until 2022, publicly refuted this framing, stating that it is not a restructuring but a total shutdown of Humble Games. Operations have reportedly been handed off to a third-party consultancy, leaving no staff behind.
In an interview with Aftermath, an unnamed employee called the claims of “restructuring” an effort to “save face.” Former employees revealed that Humble Games had not signed any projects for 2026 or 2027, and with parent company Ziff Davis’s stock decline, they decided to exit the indie game publishing business. This decision was seen as irrational and damaging to both indie development and the employees who devoted their time and effort to projects in development.
Additionally, a recording of a morning meeting obtained by Aftermath revealed that Ziff Davis had attempted to sell Humble Games twice before without success. Steve Horowitz, the president of Ziff Davis’ technology and shopping division, stated that there was no significant demand or viable offers for the company. As a result, Humble Games’ remaining publishing projects are being handed over to a third-party consulting firm, the Powell Group.
Humble Games, known for publishing popular titles such as Signalis, Forager, Slay The Spire, and Bō: Path of the Teal Lotus, has now faced its second round of layoffs in recent months. This recurring pattern of layoffs has left many in the gaming community concerned about the stability of the industry. Senior QA Emilee Kieffer expressed her disappointment, highlighting the volatile nature of the game industry and the focus on exponential growth at the expense of creating quality games with dedicated teams.
The downfall of Humble Games serves as a cautionary tale for the gaming industry. The combination of challenging economic times, failed attempts to sell the company, and the prioritization of profits over employee well-being has led to a significant loss for indie game development. It is a reminder of the importance of transparency, communication, and empathy in navigating the ever-evolving landscape of the gaming industry.
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