Gameloft closure see New Zealand lose its largest studio

Mobile giant Gameloft has closed yet another studio, this time its development house in Auckland, New Zealand.

The studio was the largest of its kind in New Zealand, with reports suggesting up to 160 people have lost their jobs as a result of the closure, according GamesIndustry.

Based in Auckland, the studio first opened doors six years ago and, according to New Zealand Game Developers Association chair Stephen Knightley, has grown beyond all expectations.

“When Gameloft originally [formed the studio], our expectations were that they would grow to become maybe a 50 or 60 person team,” he told the New Zealand Herald. 

“The fact that they grew to over 150 people shows how well the team performed. It is sad news for the great game developers of Gameloft New Zealand.”

This is the latest in a series of Gameloft closures, with the firm shutting down eight studios last year. However, it has opened a new studio in Nigeria earlier this month.