Look, let's be honest: the industry is a volatile place. Behaviour Interactive, the studio behind Dead by Daylight, has just announced another round of layoffs—this despite their recent aggressive expansion, including the acquisition of 7 Days to Die developer The Fun Pimps.

Various foreign media outlets reported on the 22nd (local time) that Behaviour Interactive is cutting staff, citing a "decline in demand for mobile and external development projects." In a statement, the company noted, "As we wrap up our remaining contracts and do not foresee further external projects in the near future, we have made the difficult decision to part ways with some of our colleagues." They added their gratitude, stating, "We appreciate the contributions of those who have helped shape Behaviour Interactive and supported our partners over the years."

While the exact scale of these layoffs remains under wraps, reports emerging from social media suggest that key personnel, including a senior animator for Dead by Daylight, have been affected. It is a peculiar situation; the move comes just as the company seemed to be scaling up via the acquisition of The Fun Pimps, leading many to speculate that Behaviour is attempting a structural pivot to focus strictly on its own proprietary IPs and core development.

This is, unfortunately, the third time the company has initiated mass layoffs in 2024. Previous rounds were widely attributed to the post-pandemic market contraction. With this latest wave, concern is inevitably mounting regarding the long-term revenue health of their flagship title, Dead by Daylight. Best of luck to everyone affected.