It has been a tough November for most NetEase-backed overseas studios. After the Chinese gaming giant pulled funding, most had until November 17 to secure new funding or shut down. Unfortunately, Jackalyptic Games is one of the studios that has now closed.
Jackalyptic Games’ closure was confirmed by the company’s CEO, Jack Emmert, through a post left on the studio’s LinkedIn page. However, it appears most of the staff already saw it coming since last month. Post from studio members looking for new roles started surfacing in October, long before the official studio closure announcement.
ALSO READ: 7 Best G-Sync Gaming Monitors Got Better With The Biggest Black Friday Discounts
“I’m here to share a note that after nearly three and a half years working with NetEase Games as a first-party studio, our partnership will be coming to an end,” announced Emmert. “We appreciate all the support NetEase Games has provided with their resources and engagement throughout this development process.”
“As we navigate this transition, our talented team members will be exploring new opportunities. If you’re looking for passionate, creative professionals who bring excellence and collaboration to everything they do, please don’t hesitate to reach out. We want to thank our community and all the individuals who have contributed to the project, and have made it something special. We are inspired by all of you and are grateful for the support we have received. We look forward to updating you and sharing positive progress on the next phases of our journey.”
The studio was rebranded in 2023 and was working on a Warhammer MMO project, which has also been canceled. The studio had its headquarters in Austin, Texas, and had fewer than 50 employees.
Developers remain emotional two weeks after Jackalyptic Games’ closure
It has been over two weeks since the announcement of Jackalyptic Games. However, several members of the studio are still trying to come to terms with the new reality. As recently as 3 days ago, senior system administrator James McGregor posted about the layoff and sought the help of his connections to land a new role.
ALSO READ: Snap Up These 10 Gaming Essentials With Huge Black Friday Discounts
“After three rewarding years, Jackalyptic Games has unfortunately closed its doors, and I am now seeking a new role as a Senior System Administrator, McGregor wrote. “While my preference is to remain in the games industry, I am open to exploring great opportunities in other sectors as well.”
One of the former studio staff who has been active since the announcement is senior concept artist Blake Henriksen. As recent as 6 days ago, Henriksen wrote, “I had the chance to work on some very cool Warhammer content at Jackalyptic Games, and it was an amazing experience.”
“We had such a talented team and we were creating something we were all excited about. Unfortunately, the work will never be shown publicly, so today I am sharing a little piece of fan art I created about a year ago. It was my take on a Space Marine, and it was a blast to paint, so I figured it deserved to be shared!”
A week ago, Henriksen also posted, saying, “So you’re telling me there’s a chance? A chance that the next chapter starts today and will be even better?! OK, I’ll take that plot twist!”
“Today marks my last day at Jackalyptic Games. It’s the Plot Twist that none of us ever wanted but hey, this is apparently one of those surprise pivotal moments in my story arc, so looks like I’m gonna embrace it and go with it! It is bittersweet, but I am overwhelmingly grateful for my time at Jackalyptic Games.”
Several members of Jackalyptic Games have recently posted about the layoff, including lead server software and game backend service engineer, Scotland Nelsen, video game designer Richard, and senior sound designer Ben Dahl.
Our hearts at GameBaba Universe go out to every member of Jackalyptic Games and hope they land on their feet soon.
