Firaxis Games, famous for the Civilization franchise, is facing a renovation that has led to the dismissal of several team members, a clear sign of the difficulties that also cross consolidated realities despite commercial successes.
The news was not officially communicated, but it emerged through professional social networks. Emma Kidwell, writer with almost five years of experience in Firaxis, announced on LinkedIn that he was involved in the cuts, making himself available for new opportunities.
During his period in the study, he had contributed to Civilization VII and Marvel’s Midnight Suns. In his message he also extended the reflection to the fired colleagues, underlining how numerous expert talents are now on the labor market.
Firaxis chose not to comment directly, while 2k Games explained the situation by talking about a “corporate renovation strategy” aimed at making the development processes more collaborative and adaptable.
A justification that follows now recurring formulas in the sector, where terms such as “optimization” end up masking difficult economic decisions, also familiar to other Italian professional areas.
Civilization VII, released in February on PC, a new generation console and Nintendo Switch, had a complicated launch. Several technical problems have requested continuous interventions, with updates aimed at improving interface, legability of maps and AI balance.
There was no lack of unexpected events, such as the temporary deactivation of the Cross-Platform multiplayer, which created further difficulties for an already tried community.
Despite the critical issues, Firaxis continued with the strategy of additional content. The “collections” represent the future of the title, offering new civilizations, leaders and wonders. After the expansion “CrossRoads of the World” in March, “Right to Rule Collection” arrived in July, with the introduction of historical figures such as Gengis Khan and the Assyrian civilization.
A post-launch support that shows how the study wants to keep the interest around Civilization VII alive, even if not sufficient to avoid sacrifices on the employment front.