Starhawk Developer Hit with Layoffs

According to a post on Polygon yesterday, LightBox Interactive, the developer behind this year’s PS3 release Starhawk, has laid off 24 employees as they shift toward developing games for mobile platforms. In addition, LightBox has severed ties with Sony Santa Monica, the studio with which Starhawk was codeveloped.

The company’s founder and president Dylan Jobe explained the move to develop for the iOS platform, and the need to cut ties with Sony:

“All of the guys at Santa Monica Studio and Sony Computer Entertainment are fantastic people and great to work with. We have had and will continue to have a great relationship with everyone over there. Hell, the PlayStation is why I got into games in the first-place!

But now, we’re just that we’re taking LightBox Interactive in a new direction.”

A post on Joystiq today about the layoffs elaborates, offering up another statement from Jobe regarding the cuts:

“Lay-offs always suck but they are an unfortunate reality of business sometimes. The best we can do is try and treat our people with respect during the shocking transition of a lay-off.”

Fortunately, Jobe confirms that all 24 of the developers who lost their jobs have gotten severance packages.

Boo to layoffs. Our condolences go out to everyone affected.

Via Polygon and Joystiq