Monumental confirms studio closure

MMO and middleware developer Monumental Games has closed its Manchester-based offices.

The developer’s COO Paul Mayze told Develop that the move was a “very difficult business decision that wasn’t taken lightly.“

The closure of the Salford Quays office sees all its twenty-three staff face the prospect of redundancy. The company told news site How Do that staff cuts had taken place, though a number wasn’t specified.

Mayze suggested to Develop that not all staff would go, though couldn’t commit to anything at this stage.

“We are looking to keep some staff, we are doing what we can, but there’s a lot of factors in play,” he added.

Mayze went on to state that a £140,000 grant awarded to Monumental back in December 2008 fell through, as it was awarded on the proviso that Monumental hire another 22 staff over two years – targets which the company has not met.

He clarified, however, that the decision to close the Manchester base “doesn’t fundamentally affect any of Monumental’s ongoing business”. He said the group’s other studios will be unaffected by the measures.

“The move is intended to support Monumental Games going forward."

In January the company became one of the first studios to land investment from the UK’s Capital for Enterprise Fund, securing £2 million from the nationwide initiative.