It seems that some changes are happening over at 11 Bit Studios, a game development company from Poland, as they have recently let go of an undisclosed number of employees. According to an update on their website, they’ve decided to pull the plug on Project 8. This game was supposed to mark their debut into the console gaming world, and they’ve been working on it since 2018. By next year, 37 staff members were dedicated to bringing it to life.
The studio has already invested quite a hefty sum into the project, around PLN 48.4 million (which is roughly $11.8 million). However, after taking a hard look at the game’s progress, they concluded that it was time to cancel the project. Project 8 faced multiple hurdles, with the disruption caused by the COVID-19 pandemic being one of them.
Przemysław Marszał, who serves as the president of the board, shed some light on the situation: “Our aim for Project 8 was ambitious. We wanted our first game specifically designed for console gamers to be both bold and thrilling. When we started, the market was more receptive to narrative-driven and story-rich games.”
He further elaborated by saying, “Whenever we evaluate a project, we always consider various factors like development progress from both internal perspectives and outside assessments. We also look into market analysis, and the game’s potential in terms of sales and marketing. In the case of Project 8, we found persistent issues and challenges that would need not only more time but also a larger budget to solve. Due to changes in projected sales, reflecting the current market situation, we started to question whether the project would be profitable in the long run.”
With these insights, 11 Bit Studios has chosen to step back and prioritize its efforts into areas that promise a better return on investment.
