Trion Worlds closing its European office

Massively multiplayer online game publisher Trion Worlds will close its European headquarters, the company confirmed with Polygon this morning.

According to a representative for Trion, the closure of the Guildford, U.K. office will result in layoffs of 12 employees from its publishing division. Those affected include Trion Europe senior vice president and general manager John Burns — who left his job as general manager at Atari in June 2011 to join the studio — as well as communications director Jon Goddard and commercial director Jeff Pabst. PR manager Gary Burns and senior brand manager Dominic Wai have been affected as well.

"As part of its recent company realignment, Trion's European publishing office based in Guildford, U.K. will be closing down," the company said in a statement.

"European localized versions of Trion's live and upcoming games will not be affected as all regional game development and support continues from Redwood City, Calif."

Trion Worlds' latest title, the sci-fi fantasy MMO Defiance, launched in April alongside its tie-in show on the Syfy Channel. It's upcoming free-to-play multiplayer online battle arena End of Nations is slated to launch later this year.

In May, the company was hit with a round of layoffs as it transitioned in a post-launch phase for Defiance. Earlier this month, Trion Worlds announced it would close its studio in San Diego, Calif. and relocate production for End of Nations and Defiance to its headquarters in Redwood City.