Polish game developer People Can Fly has announced another round of layoffs and the cancellation of Project Gemini, citing breakdowns in communication with its publishing partner and mounting financial strain. The decision marks the second wave of staff reductions in under six months for the Warsaw-based studio.
Best known for shooters like Bulletstorm and Outriders, People Can Fly has been navigating a turbulent period marked by canceled projects and internal restructuring. In a statement shared on X (formerly Twitter), CEO Sebastian Wojciechowski confirmed the studio’s intention to downsize multiple teams and suspend work on Project Gemini, calling its continuation “economically unfeasible.”
“The lack of a new content rider agreement and limited visibility into the game’s future made it impossible to move forward,” Wojciechowski explained.
Though the publisher of Project Gemini wasn’t named directly, industry reports point to Square Enix as the likely party involved.
Layoffs Continue as Financial Pressures Mount
This restructuring follows a difficult 2024 for People Can Fly. In December, the studio laid off over 120 employees, suspending Project Victoria and scaling down Project Bifrost. Earlier in April 2024, the company also canceled Project Dagger, a co-op action RPG, after parting ways with Take-Two Interactive.
Despite these measures, the company’s financial situation appears to have worsened, leading to this latest round of job cuts. As of now, the total number of affected staff in this second wave remains undisclosed.
What’s Next for People Can Fly?
While these cancellations paint a bleak picture, People Can Fly continues to work on other unannounced projects. However, the studio’s future now hinges on more sustainable publishing relationships and internal streamlining.
This string of setbacks underscores a growing trend in the gaming industry, where economic pressures and publisher relations are increasingly shaping the fate of mid-sized studios. Fans of the developer’s signature fast-paced shooters now wait anxiously to see if People Can Fly can regain altitude.