Rovio is not only the home of Angry Birds, but likely some angry employees, as the Finnish game developer announced today that it has plans for another round of layoffs, cutting up to 260 jobs, more than 30% of the studio’s workforce.
According to the company, the decision was made so that it could “restructure and concentrate” on its core business of “games, media, and consumer products.”
Rovio laid off around 130 employees last fall, blaming slow growth and declining revenue for the move. The company’s current round of layoffs will hit companywide, except for the workers toiling on the upcoming Angry Birds movie, expected to fly onto theater screens next year.
“Fundamental changes are needed to ensure Rovio succeeds in its global ambitions to be the leading entertainment company with mobile games at its heart,” CEO Pekka Rantala said in a statement.
“Rovio’s growth and eagerness to explore new business opportunities over the past few years has been exceptional,” Rantala continued. “As a result, we did too many things. In our current financial condition we must now put focus on where we are at our best: in creating magnificent gaming experiences, in producing an amazing animation movie and in delighting our fans with great products.”
Rovio hit the jackpot with its 2009 release of the Angry Birds game on iOS devices, and has worked to expand on that initial success ever since. An avalanche of spinoffs and licensed merchandise have continued to pour out the doors of the company ever since. The developer recently released Angry Birds 2, which saw over 50 million downloads during its first month of release.
Note: This article was posted before we were aware of the details of today’s shootings in Virginia. The reference to “angry employees” were in no way meant to refer to the incident. It was an unfortunate coincidence. Our hearts go out to the victim’s families, and our thoughts and prayers are with them. – Chris Hauk
