ASGC Tracker Estimates 57,640 Game Industry Layoffs for 2022-2026

The ASGC game industry layoff tracker estimates cumulative global game industry layoffs of 57,640 people over the five years from 2022 through the end of 2026, according to Inven. As of October 10, 2026, the tracker had recorded 10,581 layoffs across 132 incidents for the year, already exceeding the 9,197 recorded for all of 2025, and it projects 13,812 layoffs for the full year 2026.

During 2026, 96% of layoff events occurred in North America (67%) and Europe (30%), with the top five events accounting for 51% of affected workers.

The largest single announcement came in July 2026, when Microsoft's Xbox division said it would cut 3,200 positions by mid-2027 and laid off about 1,600 people that day. In September 2026, Microsoft cut an additional 268 positions, including at Halo Studios, and moved to spin off Compulsion Games, Double Fine and Undead Labs.

Other publishers also reduced staff this year. In March 2026, Epic Games laid off about 1,000 people, roughly 20% of its workforce, citing slowing Fortnite growth and cost pressure. In February 2026, Sony Interactive Entertainment closed Bluepoint Games, affecting about 70 people, and in June cut about 400 positions at Bungie. Ubisoft cut about 185 positions in January 2026 including the Halifax studio, about 380 in June including the Winnipeg and Belgrade studios, and on October 14, 2026 notified closure plans for Finland's RedLynx (up to 52 positions) and 70 positions at its Singapore studio. EA reduced staff at four studios after the release of Battlefield 6, and Ubisoft Singapore was subject to layoffs despite leading development of Assassin's Creed Black Flag Resynced, which sold over 3.5 million copies after its July release.

Korean companies have also restructured. In 2024, NCSoft carried out its first large-scale voluntary retirement in 26 years and spun off four subsidiaries, reducing headquarters staff from 4,886 at the start of 2024 to around 3,170 by the end of 2025, a 35.1% (1,716-person) decrease. Krafton completed about 200 voluntary retirements through the first half of 2026 under a voluntary exit program introduced at the end of last year, while maintaining an AI-focused efficiency drive and restrictions on new hiring. NHN decided on October 13, 2026 to end service of its open-beta title Darkest Days in November before its official launch.

According to the "GDC 2026 Game Industry Survey" published in January, 48% of developers laid off worldwide in the past two years (36% of those more than a year past layoff) still have not found work. Amir Satvat, general partner at 1Up Ventures and former Tencent Games director, operates the ASGC layoff tracker.