Social studio RockYou ‘to axe 55 jobs’ [Update]

[Update: The cutback operation includes selling Playdemic back to its original owners, as well as ending its partnership with Loot Drop. More here.]

Rockyou, the established Californian social games studio, will today make sweeping cuts across its workforce, a new report suggests.

The developer, which made a name for itself with various Facebook games such as Zoo World, is expected to bring the company’s overall size down to 87 staff.

A purported internal memo seen by Venturebeat claims that the downsizing operation will remove “those that really aren’t all-in”.

“Going forward we will need to be much more focused and lean in order to ensure we keep hitting these success milestones,” the memo reads.

“Unfortunately, that means that over then next week or so the management team will need to make some very tough decisions that will result in an overall reduction of our workforce.”

Rockyou has not verified the document.

There are few suggestions that the Redwood City studio has been struggling financially. The group has amassed $129 million in investor sums since launching in 2005. The group trimmed its staff count in October 2010 – a move that preceded the resignation of its CEO.

Social games are still perceived to be a thriving sector within the games industry, despite recent suggestions that the space has entered a valuation bubble.