It seems like Grand Theft Auto writer Take-Two is attempting to eliminate its indie label, Personal Division. That is in response to a brand new IGN report that particulars how the corporate’s latest studio closures and mismanagement have been “quietly killing” the indie writer.
In line with IGN, the vast majority of Personal Division employees had been laid off on the finish of April, leaving solely a small group remaining to assist already introduced titles underneath the label resembling Moon Studio’s Early Entry sport No Relaxation For The Depraved. The transfer comes after a string of reported closures of studios underneath the Personal Division banner, together with Kerbal Area Program 2 developer Intercept Video games and Rollerdrome developer Roll7. Whereas Take-Two CEO Strauss Zelnick claimed earlier this month, following a spherical of layoffs, that the corporate “didn’t shutter these studios,” IGN stories that Intercept is about to be closed formally on June 28 with Roll7 equally winding down operations.
Sources speaking to IGN accused Take-Two of mismanagement and particularly known as out the corporate’s chief technique officer and Personal Division head Michael Worosz for poor management. “The entire layoff scenario proved what we already felt,” one supply stated, “Take-Two couldn’t care much less about its staff.”
This collection of occasions factors to the bigger points that Personal Division has been going through underneath Take-Two, which, IGN asserts, is now attempting to eliminate the label totally in a method or one other. After the spherical of layoffs in April, Personal Division employees had been reportedly advised that Take-Two would not be supporting the indie label. Whereas this makes it sound like Personal Division is on the point of being shut down, Take-Two is reportedly trying to promote the indie label and the studios underneath it. IGN stories that Paradox Interactive, the writer behind technique video games like Stellaris, was in talks to accumulate Intercept however these have since fallen by.
As for Personal Division itself, there was some curiosity from a personal fairness agency. These conversations are reportedly being facilitated by individuals related to Moon Studios. The studio was the topic of a 2022 report alleging an “oppressive” office. Sources speaking to IGN stated that every part within the report was “true and worse.” That connection has these at Personal Division anxious concerning the unclear way forward for the indie label.
.