Romero Games has issued a statement addressing claims that it had closed as a result of Microsoft’s recent layoffs and game cancellations. Last week, it was revealed that Microsoft was letting go of another 9,000 employees, bringing the two-year total to roughly 27,000. Amid various reports of studio closures, it was stated that Romero Games was among the casualties, but it would seem that is not the case. While the studio did acknowledge that an undisclosed publisher had pulled out of a deal for a game in development, it has said that it is in contact with other publishers to finish the unannounced title. Additionally, the studio is pursuing all options to remain open, but is also having to reassess its staffing.
Per most recent Official Statement:
“We want to address recent reports regarding the status of Romero Studio Games. These reports have contained inaccuracies, and we feel it’s important to set the record straight.
- The funding of our project was pulled, and our game was canceled.
- Due to confidentiality agreements, we cannot disclose the publisher’s identity, though some may infer it from public information.
- As a result, we now have to reassess the entire staffing of our studio.
- Romero Games is not closed, and we are doing everything in our power to ensure that is does not come to that. Any suggestion otherwise is factually incorrect. Indeed, we were in the studio today to discuss next steps with the team.
- We’ve been contacted by several publishers interested in helping us bring the game across the finish line, and we’re currently evaluating those opportunities.
We appreciate the outpouring of support and will share further updates as we are able.
Romero Games”
This latest statement follows another from July 3rd when the studio formally announced it had learned its publishing partner had cancelled funding for the game in question. While Romero Games is unable to name the publisher due to a confidentiality clause, most are safe to assume it was Microsoft, given the timing of the announcement and how mention of other studios having their projects also terminated was included in the statement. The previous statement also withholds the publisher’s name but does confirm the unexpected abruptness with which the studio received news of the project’s demise. Romero Games also gives praise to its team, assuring that the quality of their work had nothing to do with that decision, something that was shared online by its team, who were blindsided by the circumstances.
Per the Original statement:
“We have some difficult news to share. Last night, we learned that our publisher has canceled funding for our game along with several other unannounced projects at other studios. This was a strategic decision made at a high level within the publisher, well above our visibility or control. We deeply wish there had been something, anything, we could have done to prevent this outcome.
This absolutely isn’t a reflection of our team’s work, performance, or the quality of the project itself. We hit every milestone on time, every time, consistently received high praise, and easily passed all our internal gates. We are incredibly proud of the work being done, and of the talented team behind it. The best we’ve worked with.”
The rest of that statement is consistent with the most recent in acknowledging the difficult times the studio is in, but thanks its team and everyone for their support. Hopefully, Romero Games will find its way out of this dungeon to conquer new challenges and continue its legacy.