Further details about the layoffs at Marvel Heroes have come to light.
Employees were laid off at the Diablo-like Marvel Heroes last week. As the visibly affected head of the game, David Brevik, hinted during a stream, it was a terrible, a really hard week. “The reality of running a business is sometimes just brutal.”
The question in the stream that elicited this reaction specifically revolved around Game Director Jeff “Doomsaw” Donais and Item Designer “Amthua.” Two key figures who are now leaving Gazillion.
Departing Game Director Speaks Out
Game Director Donais then addressed the fans in a letter. His departure from Gazillion had been planned for some time.
Donais has been working, as he recounts, for many exhausting years in the gaming industry. Whenever he wanted to catch his breath, a new ambitious project came up with 100-hour weeks. He first worked at Wizard of the Coast on Magic, later at Blizzard, at Riot, and now on Marvel Heroes.
Therefore, he had long been preparing for his exit, eyeing a retirement that he could fortunately afford, identifying and preparing a capable successor. Donais will likely later support the team in an advisory role. For now, he wants to focus on his wife, who deserves more attention (unless she is a disguised Skrull).
Employees Praise Gazillion
As Donais says, the recent layoffs had nothing to do with the performance of the employees, but were purely motivated by costs. Donais believes that the game is still in good hands.
Amthua also describes his time at Gazillion as fulfilling and praises the studio and colleagues in the highest terms. Brevik is not only a visionary CEO but also a down-to-earth, great person. Gazillion is more than just a company; it is more like a family.
The Marvel license attracts many idealists, as reports indicate. People for whom a dream comes true by working on a superhero Marvel game.
