Rumors have been circulating the past few days that Cloud Imperium Games, the parent company of Roberts Space Industries and the makers of Star Citizen, is laying off staff. But in a statement provided to Polygon, CIG says things are all going according to plan.
Star Citizen is reorganizing its teams, not conducting layoffs
Charlie Hall is Polygon’s tabletop editor. In 12-plus years as a journalist & photographer, he has covered simulation, strategy, and spacefaring games, as well as public policy.
“Cloud Imperium Games continues to grow its development team across CIG’s multiple studios,” the statement reads. “Each of our four offices is being streamlined to focus on specific parts of Star Citizen which will allow for a more efficient and accelerated completion of the game.”
Star Citizen was initially funded in part through a successful $2.1 million Kickstarter. Through the sales of alpha and beta access to the game, as well as premium in-game ships, that total is coming close to $90 million and 985,000 backers according to the team’s own numbers.
Yet just a few months ago the team's leader, Chris Roberts of Wing Commander fame, issued a statement that a key component of the game — a first-person shooter module called Star Marine — would be delayed. The episode has led to some speculation that the project is off course.
But, CIG says, that couldn’t be further from the truth.
“As we announced in June with the appointment of Erin Roberts as Global Production Head we have been reviewing how to optimize our development process,” the statement continues. “As a result we are moving some jobs and eliminating some redundant positions between some of our offices, as well as increasing them in others. The net result over the next few months will actually be an increase in our global internal employee base.”
See More:
Most Popular
- The top two GOTY 2025 front-runners are AA games and that’s a good sign
- Star Wars Outlaws is better than you think it is
- Fortnite maker charged with unfair labor practice over AI Darth Vader
- Horror legend Tony Todd improvised a goodbye to his fans in Final Destination: Bloodlines
- Magic: The Gathering’s Final Fantasy card pre-orders are back in stock
