Telltale Games Reportedly Lays Off Remaining Employees
Adventure game studio Telltale Games has been put through the ringer in recent weeks, having laid off a vast majority of its staff (without severance) and halted production on all current and future projects. This effectively cancelled several anticipated titles such as Season 2 of The Wolf Among Us and a Stranger Things adaptation.
Most of what remained of Telltale was a small “skeleton crew,” staying behind to fulfill a contractually-obligated Minecraft project for Netflix. The team was assured to stay on before an eventual closure was imminent, but it looks like that dreaded day may have just arrived. According to a report by Gamasutra, members of Telltale’s skeleton crew have now been laid off, with narrative designer Rachel Noel confirming the news via Twitter.
Heeeeyyyy remember how there was going to be a skeleton crew staying on for a while and I was part of it? Nah, jk, we all just got laid off, too.
— Rowan (@rnoelliams) October 4, 2018
Telltale Games has yet to issue a statement regarding this round of layoffs, but information from a relatively unofficial capacity has revealed itself in accompanying posts from Noel. Further messages from the now-ex-Telltale employee corroborated previously-disclosed stories of long hours and mismanagement, as well as confirming that she too did not receive severance pay on her way out.
I’ve seen things you people wouldn’t believe. 80-hour crunch weeks. Mismanagement of some of the industry’s top talent. All those moments will be lost in time, like tears in rain. Time to die.
— Rowan (@rnoelliams) October 4, 2018
Haha no, but I don’t think I could have accepted something like that without feeling terribly guilty anyway.
— Rowan (@rnoelliams) October 4, 2018
Rachel Noel went go on to clarify her previous comments, that while her fellow crew members were laid off, there nonetheless exists a number “good people” still employed at Telltale. It’s currently unknown what this small leftover team could’ve been working on, but Noel assures it’s a mystery to her as well.
I think there was some misunderstanding about my earlier message… There are still good people at the company. MY team is done.
— Rowan (@rnoelliams) October 4, 2018
Not really sure, honestly. :/
— Rowan (@rnoelliams) October 4, 2018
With one of Telltale’s last remaining commitments seemingly fulfilled, the end would seem to be near for the once-successful developer. A recent announcement from Telltale has expressed a desire to complete the Final Season of The Walking Dead, with former employees reportedly being rehired to complete the game they once started. It’s unknown if these new layoffs might suggest an end for those plans as well, but Telltale is expected to formally comment on the development sometime soon.
Keep a weather eye on info from the company itself, but I no longer work there so I couldn’t tell you.
— Rowan (@rnoelliams) October 4, 2018
Episode 2 of The Walking Dead: The Final Season is out now for Android, iOS, Mac, Nintendo Switch, PC, PlayStation 4, and Xbox One.
What do you think? Are you sad to see more Telltale employees laid off, or are you just glad they’re free to pursue more promising jobs? Let us know in the comments below and be sure to follow Don’t Feed the Gamers on Twitter and Facebook to be informed of the latest gaming and entertainment news 24 hours a day! For more recent developments about Telltale Games, check out these next few news stories:
Eric Hall2712 Posts
Phone-browsing Wikipedia in one hand and clutching his trusty controller in the other, the legendary Eric Hall spreads his wealth of knowledge as a writer for Don't Feed the Gamers. Be sure to catch his biweekly "Throwback Thursday" segment for a nostalgic look at trivia from the past.
