The studio Motiga is behind the hero shooter Gigantic. Originally, it was supposed to be released with a Microsoft deal in 2015. Now there are more layoffs. The launch is still far away, and the money is running out.
Gigantic is a hero shooter similar to Overwatch or Paladins. Unlike these games, Gigantic revolves around a giant monster: the player’s own must be protected, while the opponent’s must be taken down. Unlike Paladins and Overwatch, Gigantic has also had serious problems for years; it is stuck in development.
First Microsoft, then difficulties
Gigantic has been in financial trouble for some time. This is likely due to Microsoft withdrawing from a publishing deal; originally, Gigantic was intended to be a “Windows 10” and “Xbox One” exclusive game.
In 2015, Gigantic was still announced as a partnership between the indie studio Motiga and the giant Microsoft. The hero shooter was also supposed to be released in 2015, it was said back then. But that has all completely fallen through.
Now Gigantic is behind schedule and the money before the launch is simply too tight. Although the studio Motiga is supported by the publisher “Perfect World” as of May 2016, the release is still a long way off. The launch of Gigantic is currently scheduled for the second quarter of 2017, so there are still 1-4 months to go.
To survive the time until launch (and hopefully until the then flowing revenues), Motiga has now laid off 15 of its 82 employees. It is said that one must reduce the “burn rate,” that is, the speed at which one loses money. CEO Chris Chung tells the site Destructoid that the layoffs relate to the “Business and Operation” departments. The layoffs would not affect the launch on the Arc platform.
More information about Gigantic:
Gigantic: The Dance with the Giant Beast – These are the peculiarities of the Monster MOBA
