Summary
Behaviour Interactive, the studio behind titles such asDead by DaylightandIslands of Insight, announced a wave of layoffs affecting 95 employees during a period of restructuring. Prior to the announcement, the studio boasted a workforce of 1,300, with focus on multiple titles being developed in theDead by Daylightuniverse.
Behaviour Interactive was established in 1992 and has studios in multiple countries. One of Canada’s largest game developers, the company is known for theasymmetrical horror titleDead by Daylight. It’s currently readying to releaseThe Casting of Frank Stone, another horror game in theDbDuniverse, and is working onProject T, a third title in the franchise.
After growing to occupy five studios in three countries, Behaviour Interactive has announced the reduction of its total workforce by 95 employees. The Montreal studio will be hit the hardest, with 70 people leaving the studio. The announcement is part of the company’s strategic structural change during a turbulent time in the industry. Behaviour Interactive is just one of the latest studios to enact layoffs, asAvalanche Studios Group recently announced office closures.
Behaviour Interactive Announces Numerous Montreal Layoffs
The changes are part of a refocus for the studio. The growth period experienced by the industry during the COVID-19 pandemic saw Behaviour Interactive’s size more than double, increasing from 575 employees to 1,300. During this period, the horror title reached over 60 million players and sawDbDpartnering with popular IPs likeDungeons and Dragons,Stranger Things, andAlan Wake.The studio also focused on developing titles outside of horror, such asWhat the FogandIslands of Insight.
The restructuring, however, will bring the studio back to its horror roots. The main focus of the studio will continue to beDead by Daylight.The press release didn’t mention ifProject Twould be affected by the layoffs. SinceThe Casting of Frank Stoneis set to release this year, it can be assumed that the title will still launch. The positions of those laid off weren’t specified, but it did note that production, product, business development, and marketing were the areas being restructured.
While Behaviour Interactive’s layoffs aren’t the largest in the industry, it comes at a time when the industry is experiencing high levels of unemployment across all disciplines and experience levels. The studio has promised support for those whose jobs were lost during the restructuring, but details of compensation or severance packages weren’t included in the release.
