There is a growing trend in the video game industry where developers who were part of a mass layoff band together to create an indie studio. The latest studio to emerge from that trend is Dark Ritual Studios, formed by ex-Ubisoft Barcelona employees.
Following the launch of Assassin’s Creed Black Flag Resynced in June, Ubisoft announced that it was making 51 roles redundant at its Barcelona studio. A group of some of those impacted by that decision has formed Dark Ritual Studios, led by Myles Kerwin.
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In an interview with Gamesindustry.biz, Kerwin said their goal is to remain “small enough that ideas can move quickly from discussion to implementation”.
“Our experience across Ubisoft Barcelona and other studios reinforced a belief that has been growing for a while: great games don’t necessarily require enormous teams. AAA development has become incredibly complex. Large productions inevitably involve many layers of coordination, and that can slow creative decision-making.
At Dark Ritual Studios, we’re embracing the opposite approach – a small, experienced team with clear creative ownership, faster decision-making, and a focus on craftsmanship over scale.”
Dark Ritual Studios is based in Barcelona and has already secured funding to complete its first game, the dark fantasy Puzzle Mage. It is expected to launch on PC in 2027. It recently surpassed 1,000 wishlists on Steam. According to Kerwin, it was a “nice early milestone [that] suggests the concept is resonating with players”.
Dark Ritual Studios’ dark fantasy Puzzle Mage
In 2025, a mass layoff at Zenimax Online Studios saw many of those impacted employees band together to form indie studios. The first studio to emerge from that layoff was Sackbird Studios, followed by Ironroot Games and Eighth Lantern Studios.
Kerwin said Dark Ritual Studios is not seeking additional funding, but considering between self-publishing and partnering with a publisher to decide the more profitable long-term strategy.
Do you think former developers forming indie studios after mass layoffs is the way to go, or do you think most of the new studios springing up will die faster than they were launched? Share your thoughts in the comment box below.
