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Here is a detailed report on the recent layoffs at Wooga:
Introduction: Wooga Restructures Following Game Cancellation
Wooga, a Berlin-based mobile game studio owned by Playtika, has recently laid off approximately 50 employees. This decision follows the cancellation of their upcoming mobile game, *Claire’s Chronicles: Solitaire*. The layoffs impact various roles within the company, including artists, analysts, designers, producers, and engineers. This move comes despite Wooga’s recent relocation to a new office in Berlin, signaling a significant restructuring effort.
Background on Wooga and Playtika
Wooga was founded in 2009 and has become known for its story-driven casual games, particularly in the hidden object genre. The studio’s major hits include *Pearl’s Peril* and *June’s Journey*, with *June’s Journey* surpassing $1 billion in lifetime revenue. In 2018, Wooga joined Playtika Holding Corp., a gaming giant that has also undergone its own series of layoffs and acquisitions. Playtika’s portfolio includes a variety of mobile games, and the company has been actively expanding through acquisitions, such as the purchase of SuperPlay in September 2024.
Reasons Behind the Layoffs
The primary reason cited for the layoffs at Wooga is the cancellation of *Claire’s Chronicles: Solitaire*. The game had been in soft launch since October 2024 in countries like the United Kingdom, Canada, India, and the Philippines. Despite initial plans to release the game globally within 12 to 18 months, Playtika and Wooga decided to halt development and reallocate resources to other projects. The cancellation reflects a strategic shift within the company to focus on more promising ventures. This decision aligns with a broader trend in the gaming industry, where companies must constantly reassess their projects and resource allocation to maintain competitiveness.
Impact of Game Cancellation on the Workforce
The cancellation of *Claire’s Chronicles: Solitaire* directly led to the reduction of Wooga’s workforce by approximately 50 employees. The layoffs affected various departments, indicating a significant change in the studio’s operational strategy. The impacted roles included:
- Artists: Those involved in creating the game’s visual assets.
- Analysts: Those responsible for data analysis and market research.
- Designers: Those who designed the gameplay and user experience.
- Producers: Those who managed the development process.
- Engineers: Those who worked on the game’s technical aspects.
Wooga’s History of Strategic Shifts
Wooga has a history of strategic shifts and project cancellations. In 2021, they launched *Switchcraft*, a story-driven puzzle match-3 game, but it was deprioritized less than a year after its global release due to underperformance. Wooga has learned from these experiences, emphasizing the importance of market validation and scalability throughout the development process. These shifts reflect the challenges of innovating under the umbrella of a larger corporation like Playtika.
Playtika’s Financial Performance and Layoffs
Wooga’s parent company, Playtika, has also experienced its share of financial challenges and layoffs. In December 2022, Playtika laid off 610 employees, representing 15% of its workforce. The company has also been consolidating studios and winding down non-core initiatives to improve efficiency. Despite these cost-cutting measures, Playtika reported record Q1 revenue of $706 million in 2025, driven by the acquisition of SuperPlay. However, net income for the same period decreased by 42.3% year-over-year, and adjusted EBITDA also saw a decline. This financial context underscores the pressures faced by Wooga and Playtika to balance innovation with fiscal prudence.
Industry Context and Trends
The layoffs at Wooga are part of a broader trend of job cuts in the gaming industry. Several other game companies have announced layoffs in recent months, including:
- Electronic Arts (EA)
- Respawn Entertainment
- Meta’s Reality Labs
- Plaion
- Crystal Dynamics
These layoffs reflect the challenges faced by the gaming industry, including increased competition, rising development costs, and the need to adapt to changing market conditions. The COVID-19 pandemic led to a surge in gaming revenue, but as the world has returned to normalcy, many companies are now adjusting their workforce to reflect the current economic environment.
Public and Employee Reactions
The public reaction to the layoffs at Wooga has been largely sympathetic to the affected employees. Many have criticized the decision-making process and lack of transparency from Wooga and Playtika. Former Wooga employees have taken to social media platforms like LinkedIn to share their experiences and seek new opportunities. Other companies in the gaming industry have also begun posting open job roles for those impacted by the layoffs. This support highlights the sense of community within the gaming industry and the willingness of companies to help those who have been affected by job cuts.
The Move to a New Berlin Office
The timing of the layoffs is particularly noteworthy, as it coincides with Wooga’s recent move to a new office in Berlin. This move was intended to provide a better working environment for employees and support the company’s growth. However, the subsequent layoffs raise questions about the company’s strategic direction and its ability to balance expansion with financial stability.
Conclusion: Navigating a Challenging Landscape
The layoffs at Wooga reflect the challenges and transformations occurring within the company and its parent company, Playtika, and the broader gaming industry. Triggered by the cancellation of *Claire’s Chronicles: Solitaire* and the strategic move to a new Berlin office, these layoffs highlight the necessity for studios to adapt, reallocate resources, and focus on projects with high-growth potential.
These job cuts, impacting roles from artists to engineers, signal a significant operational shift. While Wooga and Playtika navigate financial pressures and strategic realignments, the gaming community watches closely, offering support to those affected and hoping for a resilient future for the studio. This moment serves as a critical reflection point, urging Wooga to recalibrate its trajectory for sustained growth and innovation in an ever-evolving industry.