Coalition Devs Fear Layoffs After Gears of War: E-Day Launch
Eurogamer reports staff at The Coalition expect layoffs after Gears of War: E-Day ships, with an October Metacritic bonus payout in doubt.
Developers at The Coalition expect to be laid off after Gears of War: E-Day launches, according to a report by Eurogamer. Staff at the Xbox studio are also uncertain whether they will receive bonuses tied to the game's critical reception if those layoffs follow the release.
An internal email verified by Eurogamer confirms that a Metacritic bonus scheme exists at the studio. Eligibility for the payout requires staff to be full-time employees at the time the payment is made, meaning anyone laid off before that point would not qualify.
Studio leadership told developers the payout date should fall near the end of October, according to the report.
A longstanding practice
Metacritic bonuses tied to a game's critical reception have been an established practice at game development studios for years. Eurogamer's Connor Makar spoke to developers at The Coalition about their prospects following the release of E-Day.
Quick answers
Why do The Coalition developers fear layoffs?
According to Eurogamer, developers at the studio expect to be laid off after Gears of War: E-Day launches.
When would The Coalition's Metacritic bonuses be paid?
Studio leadership told developers the payout date should be near the end of October, though eligibility requires being a full-time employee at the time of payment.