Summary
- Sega has canceled multiple games, including Creative Assembly's Hyenas, due to financial challenges and the need for increased profitability in its European operations.
- Employees were reportedly surprised by the cancelation of Hyenas, which was close to its release date, but there were doubts about its proper functioning and potential future problems.
- Sega is committed to finding other opportunities within Creative Assembly for employees at risk of layoffs and remains dedicated to delivering exciting game experiences for fans worldwide despite these challenges.
Bad news for Sega fans, as the company has announced the cancelation of multiple games, including its multiplayer shooter Hyenas. Sega is facing some problems that have led to these cancelations.
Last year, Sega had announced the release of Hyenas, a multiplayer shooter from Creative Assembly, the studio responsible for titles such as Total War. Hyenas promised to be a title with objective-based gameplay, pitting players against each other in frenetic team battles while also dealing with AI-controlled enemies. Last month, during a financial briefing, Sega discussed the challenges associated with Hyenas and admitted that it was a demanding project, and that it was working hard to make the game better before releasing it.
According to IGN, Sega is facing financial issues mainly in its European bases, which forces it to make the uncomfortable decision of canceling Hyenas along with many other unannounced titles. Profiting has been a problem for Sega, leading it to undergo a restructuring aimed at increasing its efficiency. Sega has also indicated that it will explore additional measures to improve profitability in its European operations, with specific details to be announced once decisions are made, hinting at the possibility of similar news in the future.
The news was reportedly communicated to employees on September 28, which took them by surprise and raised concerns about possible layoffs resulting from this cancelation, as has already been seen in Blizzard and other companies this year. The news surprised employees because Hyenas was very close to its release date. However, as reported by IGN, there were some doubts about the game's proper functioning, indicating that even though it was close to launch, the title might have required additional budget to address future problems. Sega wanted to reassure its employees by saying that its main focus is helping those whose jobs are at risk and trying to find them other opportunities within Creative Assembly when possible.
Sega had announced plans to release 12 non-mobile games this fiscal year, which could be affected by this announcement. Nevertheless, the studio sought to reassure fans by emphasizing its unwavering commitment to delivering more exciting game experiences that will delight both current and potential players worldwide.
The video game industry, especially the AAA segment, requires significant budgets. The most expensive games involve very high numbers, which bring about significant financial implications, and it carries a high level of risk. It is an industry with fluctuating profitability, one that frequently compels even giants like Sega to make such drastic decisions.
Source: IGN