During an interview with Game File on April 5th, Michael Douse, the publishing director at Larian, expressed his views on the recent string of layoffs impacting the gaming industry. Douse argued that the idea of layoffs being unavoidable needs to be more accurate. Additionally, he pointed out that as more companies let go of employees, it may embolden others to follow suit. On the bookmaker’s website Melbet online you can place bets on sports matches from several dozen sports, including e-sports events.
We Remind You: Larian Gave The World Baldurs Gate 3
Meanwhile, over the past year, Baldur’s Gate 3 by Larian has achieved significant success. Not only has it been well-received by critics and commercially successful (with a Metacritic score of 96 and over ten million copies sold), but it also notably won the “Game of the Year 2023” award—without the need for layoffs. When asked if Larian Studios would ever go public, Douse responded that while it might bring in more revenue for the developer, “it wouldn’t make our games better. It would just force us to hurry.” He also explained the success of Baldur’s Gate 3 due to a slow and methodical development process and the agility afforded by being a smaller company.
“We just took it day by day,” Douse said. “Throughout the operation, we built reserves. We scaled up based on what we felt we needed and created reserves and contingency plans just in case. Luckily, we didn’t need it. We’re just nimble. Being nimble is key to success. Big companies lack that flexibility.”
The funds acquired from becoming a public company or even from ownership are a privilege, but the creative and labor costs are too risky: “Creating games the way we wanted to and going public could have given us more money, but it would have been counterproductive to the quality aspect of what we’re trying to achieve. So it wouldn’t make our games better. It would just force us to hurry.
Another advantage of confidentiality? Creating games that gamers really want to play. In this sense, he even compares the success of Baldur’s Gate 3 to a game like Palworld. “They took a bunch of mechanics that, as they knew, people liked, made a game that didn’t care what it should be, and gave it directly to players who decided to buy it. It’s damn simple. It’s not rocket science.”
Layoffs Are “A Very, Very Complex And Subtle Decision,” Douse Said
Douse described the layoffs as “a very, very difficult and nuanced decision,” adding that “the idea that it’s an inevitability that has to happen just doesn’t reflect reality.” He said, “They can be avoided. That’s all they are,” adding, “That’s why you see them happening one after another. Because companies say, ‘Well, finally, now we can too. We’ve wanted to do this for ages. Everyone else is. So why not?’ It’s appalling.”
Douse also added that no direct economic dangers are leading to these decisions. “None of these companies are risking bankruptcy. They’re just risking upsetting shareholders. And that’s normal. That’s how they operate. The function of a public company is to ensure growth for its shareholders… Not to create a favorable climate for employees.”
Over the past year, significant layoffs have occurred in the gaming industry. In January, Microsoft laid off 1,900 employees, Sony announced it was laying off around 900 employees in February, and Ubisoft laid off 45 employees just this month, marking the publisher’s second round of job cuts.
CEO Sven Vincke reiterated many of these comments about the industry’s greed during and immediately following The Game Awards ceremony.
