SOCOM and Resident Evil: Operation Raccoon City developer Slant Six hit with layoffs

Developer Slant Six Games has laid off an unspecified portion of its workforce today as the independent studio works to "negotiate new business," according to a statement send to Polygon. The developer of multiple SOCOM games and Resident Evil: Operation Raccoon City says it intends to rehire those affected.

A spokesperson for the Vancouver, B.C.-based studio confirmed the layoffs, calling them a temporary measure.

"This necessary measure has been taken to reduce the size of our team and to decrease interim operating costs while we continue to negotiate new business," the statement reads. "Temporary layoffs provide us with a time period to keep everyone's employment position open with full benefits. The intention is to reinstate all of the people affected when new projects or funding has been secured.

"As an independent studio, we are a tight group and this is a difficult time for everyone. We are very proud of the incredibly talented team we have at Slant Six Games."

Slant Six added mobile game development to its slate over the past year, releasing free-to-play game The Bowling Dead for iOS through Activision in November. In March, the studio released Galactic Reign for Windows 8 devices in conjunction with Microsoft Game Studios.

The studio will self-publish its first title, Max's Pirate Planet - A Board Game Adventure, on April 23 for iOS, Android and Kindle Fire.

"Additionally, Slant Six Games currently has multiple titles in development," a spokesperson said, "and we look forward to the completion of these titles once publishing or funding partnerships can be secured."

Earlier this year, Slant Six and other Vancouver-based studios lamented the loss of investment (and talent) as video game industry jobs and projects moved eastward in Canada in response to more lucrative tax breaks.