Tripwire, Skydance Games, and Bit Reactor all cut staff this week

# Tripwire, Skydance Games, and Bit Reactor all cut staff this week

Three game companies confirmed or were reported to have cut jobs in the same news cycle this week. On November 9, 2026, Killing Floor studio Tripwire Interactive said it had laid off 36 people. The same day, a Skydance spokesperson confirmed a reorganization at Skydance Games that has cost at least 25 roles, with the full total unclear. Bit Reactor, the studio behind Star Wars Zero Company, also saw staff cuts, after several employees posted on LinkedIn that they had been laid off. Bit Reactor has not published a headcount.

## Tripwire lays off 36 people

PC Gamer reported on November 9 that Tripwire Interactive had laid off 36 employees. The studio’s own message, as quoted by the site, said the move “was certainly not an easy decision, but unfortunately a necessary one for the organization.”

A source at the studio told PC Gamer that “roughly 40-50 employees are left following the layoffs.” That remaining-headcount figure comes from an unnamed source, not from Tripwire’s public statement.

In a message shared on LinkedIn and quoted by PC Gamer, the studio said: “Our team is focused on our internal projects, including active development of Maneater 2, ongoing work on Killing Floor 3, and publishing efforts under the Tripwire Presents label. We are continuing to give the best support possible to all of our games and remain committed to our awesome community.”

PC Gamer noted that the cuts came less than a week after Tripwire announced an expansion of Tripwire Presents, its publishing line for smaller independent developers.

## Skydance Games cuts at least 25 roles

TheWrap reported on November 9 that Skydance Games had laid off at least 25 people as part of a reorganization. A Skydance spokesperson confirmed the broader move to the site:

“As part of our ongoing efforts to position Skydance Games for long-term growth and success, we are implementing reorganization and operational shifts across a few areas of our business. We have stepped back and taken some time to consider where we are investing our efforts and have made the difficult decision to scale down some of our projects. As a result, there are roles impacted. This is not a reflection of the talent, dedication, or creativity of those affected and we are grateful for their contributions. We are committed to approaching the process with transparency, care and respect for those who are leaving the company.”

TheWrap said the total number of people affected remains unclear. The “at least 25” figure comes from a LinkedIn post by Paramount Games lead engineer David Vera, who the site said wrote that colleagues ranging from producers, writers, and engineers to audio and level designers and 2D, 3D, VFX, and tech artists had been laid off. TheWrap also cited Skydance Games senior programmer Rebecca Vessel as saying she remains at the company, but that most of her game team was included in the cuts.

Vera, as quoted by TheWrap, wrote: “The Skydance crew wasn’t let go because of performance or problematic behaviors. These are all extremely worthy folks who were pushing themselves to the limit to try to make something they could all be proud of.”

TheWrap placed the cuts against Skydance’s first earnings report after its Paramount-Warner Bros. Discovery merger. That is surrounding context from the report, not a company figure for these particular game-studio cuts.

## Bit Reactor layoffs after a furlough

Video Games Chronicle reported on November 9 that Bit Reactor, the studio behind Star Wars Zero Company, had laid off staff. VGC said a Bespin Bulletin report had flagged LinkedIn posts from developers, and it named senior environment artist Ryan Lopez, UI engineer Tyler Eichten, producer Michael Blackard, and senior QA analyst Ryan Mosher as among those who said they had been laid off.

VGC said it was not yet clear whether all of those affected had been furloughed earlier and not brought back, or whether some had returned and then lost their jobs. Lopez, the site said, confirmed that in his case he “was laid off from Bit Reactor this week after a three-month furlough.” VGC quoted him as writing: “I was laid off from Bit Reactor this week after a three-month furlough, and while it stings, I’m really proud of what we built together.”

The studio has not issued a public headcount for this round of cuts. VGC recounted earlier reporting that around 80% of the studio had been furloughed without pay before Zero Company’s August release, and that CEO Greg Foertsch said last month some of those staff were returning. VGC also reported that EA’s official Star Wars account said on October 9 that Zero Company had sold 1 million units.

## FAQ

**How many people did Tripwire cut?** Tripwire said 36 people were affected. PC Gamer, citing an unnamed studio source, reported that about 40 to 50 staff remain. Tripwire has not itself published that remaining total.

**How many people did Skydance Games cut?** A company spokesperson confirmed a reorganization that cut roles, without giving a number. TheWrap reported at least 25, based on a LinkedIn post by a Paramount Games engineer, and said the full total is unclear.

**Did Bit Reactor confirm a number?** No. The reporting is based on employee posts and follow-up with at least one laid-off developer. The studio has not published a headcount for this week’s cuts.

## Image credits

- Main thumbnail: A Killing Floor 3 screenshot from Tripwire Interactive's Steam store page. Image: Tripwire Interactive via Steam. Source: https://store.steampowered.com/app/1430190/ (file: https://shared.akamai.steamstatic.com/store_item_assets/steam/apps/1430190/a0251105df5c13195540ac4e3a58476e2341fda0/ss_a0251105df5c13195540ac4e3a58476e2341fda0.1920x1080.jpg). Basis: Official Steam store screenshot published by the developer/publisher. - Medium thumbnail: A Star Wars Zero Company screenshot from the game's Steam store page. Image: Bit Reactor / Electronic Arts via Steam. Source: https://store.steampowered.com/app/2075800/ (file: https://shared.akamai.steamstatic.com/store_item_assets/steam/apps/2075800/ca1c9bd849571f0795dbc641f0f4906c15e2aaaa/ss_ca1c9bd849571f0795dbc641f0f4906c15e2aaaa.1920x1080.jpg). Basis: Official Steam store screenshot published by the developer/publisher. - Small thumbnail: A The Walking Dead: Saints & Sinners screenshot from Skydance's Steam store page. Image: Skydance Interactive via Steam. Source: https://store.steampowered.com/app/916840/ (file: https://shared.akamai.steamstatic.com/store_item_assets/steam/apps/916840/ss_afd82729c8075cd71e5766ffe2f05eb49cc32070.1920x1080.jpg). Basis: Official Steam store screenshot published by the developer/publisher. - Article image 1: A Killing Floor 3 screenshot of a zed close-up from the game's Steam store page. Image: Tripwire Interactive via Steam. Source: https://store.steampowered.com/app/1430190/ (file: https://shared.akamai.steamstatic.com/store_item_assets/steam/apps/1430190/1c4ecff62d124d4a1071b3e8248b26b7ba73376d/ss_1c4ecff62d124d4a1071b3e8248b26b7ba73376d.1920x1080.jpg). Basis: Official Steam store screenshot published by the developer/publisher. - Article image 2: A The Walking Dead: Saints & Sinners screenshot from the game's Steam store page. Image: Skydance Interactive via Steam. Source: https://store.steampowered.com/app/916840/ (file: https://shared.akamai.steamstatic.com/store_item_assets/steam/apps/916840/ss_9e8acbe7127e45a0f50e3fd0e90163e8f3b5fe25.1920x1080.jpg). Basis: Official Steam store screenshot published by the developer/publisher. - Article image 3: A Star Wars Zero Company combat screenshot from the game's Steam store page. Image: Bit Reactor / Electronic Arts via Steam. Source: https://store.steampowered.com/app/2075800/ (file: https://shared.akamai.steamstatic.com/store_item_assets/steam/apps/2075800/68d5acedd1b34badb379215eaf2bd0af3f43c3b1/ss_68d5acedd1b34badb379215eaf2bd0af3f43c3b1.1920x1080.jpg). Basis: Official Steam store screenshot published by the developer/publisher.