Kabam lays off 8% of staff to focus on mobile MMOs

Mobile studio Kabam is cutting almost a tenth of its workforce to implement a new strategy focused on multiplayer titles.

The Marvel: Contest of Champions and Star Wars: Uprising outlet said in the announcement that "adapting our business comes with organisational changes that are difficult but necessary”.

Eight per cent of workers will be laid off, with Kabam declining to detail the number of staff that accounts for.

It added that the increased focus on mobile MMO games would see a move away from single-player efforts such as its licensed Fast and the Furious title.

Kabam also reiterated its dedication to fresh IP, with the company having sold off a number of its older franchises to Chinese firm Gaea in January. This followed the shifting of its web-based titles to RockYou in 2015.

“The changes we are making today impact close to eight per cent of our employee base, which includes eliminating some positions in the organisation that focused on our web games or first-generation mobile games," the company continued.

"It is never easy to say goodbye, and we are deeply grateful to the contributions these people have made. Wherever possible, we are moving talent directly into the studios to fortify our game teams that work on making and operating games."