2K Marin, the studio behind the recent XCOM: Enemy Unknown prequel spinoff The Bureau: XCOM Declassified, is going through a round of layoffs today, 2K Games confirms. “We can confirm staff reductions at 2K Marin,” a publisher spokesperson tells Digital Trends. “While these were difficult decisions, we regularly evaluate our development efforts and have decided to reallocate creative resources. Our goal to create world-class video game titles remains unchanged.”
Word of the layoffs first slipped out when Polygon heard about it from “sources familiar with the matter.” 2K offered no official comment on the extent of the layoffs, but one source suggested that the “majority” of the staff there is gone and another spoke with certainty that the studio is now shut down.
2K Marin was once closely tied to BioShock developer Irrational Games, having launched in 2007, shortly after the undersea adventure’s release. The studio went on to lead the development of BioShock 2 and then assist Irrational in polishing 2013’s BioShock Infinite. The studio also worked on a shooter set within the XCOM universe for a number of years. The project went through multiple evolutions before landing at the strategy-driven third-person shooter, The Bureau: XCOM Declassified.
Our own Anthony Agnello took issue with certain aspects of The Bureau in his review, leveling the bulk of his criticisms at the shaky execution of the game’s period-specific premise. Still, it laid a promising foundation for future efforts in the XCOM universe designed to spin the core series’ top-down strategy play in different directions. 2K Marin was home to a talented team of folks – people like Steve Gaynor, who along with several other Marin vets went on to make the outstanding Gone Home – and their contributions as a team will be missed.
Our sympathies go out to all those affected by the layoffs. If you’re one of those people and you happen to be reading this, check out this handy Google Doc pointing to open industry jobs, curated by Gank Report’s Alex Rubens.
