The gaming industry is facing some challenging times, and it’s become increasingly evident as Humanoid Origin, the studio founded by the director behind Mass Effect, has announced its closure.
Every week seems to bring with it news of layoffs and studio closures, and sadly, this week follows suit. Back in 2021, Casey Hudson, famed for directing the original Mass Effect trilogy (and having a significant hand in the less acclaimed Anthem), introduced his new venture, Humanoid Origin. The studio promised an exciting new intellectual property, but unfortunately, that dream is coming to an end. Just yesterday, Humanoid Origin took to LinkedIn to announce its closure due to a funding shortage. “Earlier today, we informed our staff that Humanoid Origin will be shutting down,” the post disclosed. “Despite our efforts to protect the studio from larger industry challenges, an unforeseen funding deficit made continuing operations impossible.”
The team’s aspirations to create a new sci-fi universe have been cut short, and the focus now shifts to the employees’ transition to new opportunities. “We’re heartbroken that we will not be able to bring our new science-fiction universe to completion,” the studio expressed. Yet, the priority lies with their team, ensuring they have the support needed to move forward in their careers. The studio praised its team for the incredible advancements they made, highlighting their capacity to produce remarkable work in an atmosphere that celebrated fun and creativity. “We thank them for their talent, courage, and friendship. Thank you to everyone who supported us throughout our journey.”
This development is undeniably disappointing but, unfortunately, not all that surprising in today’s climate. Besides the more than 14,000 layoffs that have occurred just this year, funding struggles have been a constant concern. Let’s hope that everyone affected by the closure of Humanoid Origin finds new paths swiftly and successfully.
