A44 Games, the developer behind the recently released action RPG Flintlock: The Siege of Dawn, could be facing mass layoffs. The game released earlier this month to mostly mixed to positive reviews from critics and fans. A44 Games reported that, thanks to its inclusion on Xbox Game Pass, the game attracted around 500,000 players since release. A new report claims that those numbers weren’t nearly substantial enough.
According to a ResetEra member going by the name VIPER, they recently posted on the message board, “I have a friend of a friend who resigned from the company. He is expecting massive layoffs. Does not bode well sadly.” Despite launching with a healthy 500,000 players on the game, it’s unclear what the retention rate was or how many stuck around to keep playing.
For a AA game with the advantage of being available to a wider player base on Xbox Game Pass, those aren’t very impressive numbers when you compare it to other titles. For example, Tchia had over one million players when it released. We need not mention the astronomical success of Palworld either.
Flintlock: The Siege of Dawn also released on PS5 and PC, though it’s hard to tell how well it sold on those platforms. It’s presumed that a good majority of players came from Game Pass subscribers.
A44 Games is also known for developing the inspired Soulslike title, Ashen, which fared much better over the years after attracting the attention of the Souls community and newcomers who used the game an entry point into the genre.
The description of Flintlock: The Siege of Dawn reads:
“From games studio A44, makers of Ashen, comes an explosive Souls-lite, where Gods and guns collide in a battle for the future of humanity. The Door to the Great Below has been opened unleashing the Gods and their armies of the Dead. The lands of Kian are besieged, the city of Dawn is on the brink of destruction. It’s time for the Coalition army to fight back. Embrace vengeance, gunpowder and magic as you embark on an epic journey to defeat the Gods, close the door and retake the world.”
As with all rumours and reports, take this with a pinch of salt until we get confirmation directly from A44 Games.
Source: ResetEra
