After last week's bombshell that ArenaNet would be releasing a significant number of employees, it appears that the layoffs are now underway after an emotional weekend. According to sources, employees met with leadership to discuss the layoffs. During these meetings, sources said that ArenaNet's Mike O'Brien was grief-stricken. "He kept wandering around just saying we'll get through this" repeatedly.
Update:
I still have my job but over a hundred amazing people don't
— Samantha ?? Wallschlaeger (@StillNotSam) February 25, 2019
Welp, I spent the weekend thinking about it, and I've decided that I'm gonna be leaving ArenaNet. Really tough decision. I adore these people. I'll miss them so. pic.twitter.com/oa17GYUhGf
— Aaron Linde (@aaronlinde) February 25, 2019
“We can confirm that a number of staff at ArenaNet were affected today as part of NCSOFT’s ongoing restructuring of its development and publishing business in the west,” a company representative told GameDaily. “However, we don’t comment on specific individuals or details of staff reductions.”
The emotional impact has been so strong that ArenaNet closed its offices today and will remain closed tomorrow to give the remaining staff time to process the changes. While some projects have been cancelled as a result of the restructuring, Guild Wars 2 will not be affected but with fewer developers working on it.
Read more at the links above.
