In a sudden and unexpected development, mobile gaming company Gameloft has shut down its India studio, leaving more than 250 employees without jobs. The Hyderabad-based office, which was a part of Gameloft’s global development network, reportedly ceased operations earlier this week, catching employees and industry observers off guard.
In a sudden and unexpected development, mobile gaming company Gameloft has shut down its India studio, leaving more than 250 employees without jobs. The Hyderabad-based office, which was a part of Gameloft’s global development network, reportedly ceased operations earlier this week, catching employees and industry observers off guard.
Sudden Closure Raises Concerns
According to multiple reports and accounts from employees, the shutdown came without prior notice. Employees were reportedly called into a meeting during the day and informed that the studio would be closing operations immediately. Many were asked to vacate the premises the same day. There are also allegations that some employees were asked to submit resignation letters citing “personal reasons,” instead of being formally laid off.
Gameloft has not issued an official statement detailing the reasons behind the closure at the time of writing. The India studio was understood to be working on porting Gameloft’s mobile titles, particularly adapting iOS games for Android platforms, a critical function as Android adoption continues to grow globally. Gameloft has been one of the prominent players in the mobile gaming space, with operations across multiple countries and a strong portfolio of smartphone titles.
The closure of its India unit raises questions about the company’s strategy in emerging markets. As of now, there is limited clarity on whether Gameloft plans to restructure its operations in India or shift responsibilities to other studios globally. For the employees impacted, the immediate concern remains employment and transition, as the industry absorbs one of its most abrupt shutdowns in recent times.
More details are expected as the situation develops.