More Layoffs from Don’t Nod
The developer behind Life is Strange and Lost Records: Bloom & Rage, Don’t Nod has suffered another wave of layoffs recently.
Layoffs in Don’t Nod
Don’t Nod brought Life is Strange’s eponymous debut and its sequel to life, while Deck Nine took over developing duties for the prequel Before the Storm, True Colors, and Double Exposure. After launching to mixed reviews in 2024, Life is Strange: Double Exposure publisher Square Enix reported “large losses” from its release, despite the Deck Nine team returning an older Max Caulfield to the story.
Reported on LinkedIn, Principal Cinematic Artist Mary Pouliot confirmed she had been affected by Don’t Nod Montreal’s recent layoffs. Pouliot noted that she had been anticipating the “dreadly fatality” due to the abundance of layoffs in the industry recently, but said it still came as a “real shock.” Don’t Nod was first hit with layoffs back in October 2024, affecting 21% of the studio’s staff after Jusant and Banishers: Ghosts of New Eden underperformed. Pouliot also confirmed that more of her colleagues were part of the recent layoff wave, although the specific number of affected employees was not given.
Several Don’t Nod employees reached out to Pouliot on LinkedIn in response to the layoff announcement, with Don’t Nod Montreal Narrative Designer Alexandra B. expressing “how sudden it still feels even when it’s almost getting predictable.” Fellow Cinematic Artist Johanna B. added how they had watched Pouliot give her “time, expertise, and energy” to deliver the “best cinematics possible” within the team. Additionally, further demonstrating the devastating wave of layoffs that have been affecting the entire gaming industry for the past few years, Life is Strange: Double Exposure’s Deck Nine was also hit with a second round of layoffs at the end of 2024 amid industry challenges.
