Decatur-based CCP Games announced layoffs in a press release today (see below). CCP Games moved to downtown Decatur from Stone Mountain back in 2011.
CCP Games today announced that they have cancelled the World of Darkness massively multiplayer online (MMO) game project in development in their Atlanta, GA studio.
As a result of the change, 56 employees of the Atlanta studio have lost their jobs. Some team members have been offered roles on other projects inside the company, and CCP has provided severance packages and job placement assistance for those affected.
The remaining team in Atlanta will focus on games in the EVE Universe, which will mark the first time since 2006 that the entirety of CCP will be working on a single universe.
CCP CEO Hilmar Veigar Pétursson:
The decision to end the World of Darkness MMO project is one of the hardest I’ve ever had to make. I have always loved and valued the idea of a sandbox experience set in that universe, and over the years I’ve watched the team passionately strive to make that possible.
I would like to give special thanks to everyone who worked so hard to make the World of Darkness MMO a reality, especially the team members affected by this decision. Their considerable contribution to CCP will not be forgotten, and we wish them well.
To our current and former employees and fans of World of Darkness, I am truly sorry that we could not deliver the experience that we aspired to make. We dreamed of a game that would transport you completely into the sweeping fantasy of World of Darkness, but had to admit that our efforts were falling regretfully short. One day I hope we will make it up to you.
Although this was a tough decision that affects our friends and family, uniting the company behind the EVE Universe will put us in a stronger position moving forward, and we are more committed than ever to solidify EVE as the biggest gaming universe in the world.
Sad. But am I correct in extrapolating that about 100 jobs remain?
Fair to say that the laid off must feel like they are exiting a virtual world of darkness only to enter a real one…
Truthfully, I was surprised that this title was still even in development. It has been at least 4 years in the making with absolutely no buzz and no real press. Last time I looked, CCP was the only big game dev studio in the Atlanta area. Good luck to all the people affected!
Somewhat ironic too that they were recently (within the past two weeks) featured on Decaturish.
So does that make Decaturish the Madden cover of MMOs?
That IP must be cursed, man. It was massively, outrageously, successful for about a decade and then it just completely imploded and they haven’t been able to get anything really significant off the ground since.
(also, sucks for the employees. ouch.)
This is sad news. Hats off to CCP for moving to Decatur and for trying their best with this MMO title. I hope these engineers find jobs, but they probably won’t be in Decatur. Most of the tech. jobs are where I’m at now : John’s Creek or Lawrenceville.
Things are changing, though, and I hope CCP and Decatur are able to replace these jobs.