Heart Machine Hit by Another Wave of Layoffs Less Than Two Weeks
Heart Machine, the independent studio best known for Hyper Light Drifter, Solar Ash, and the upcoming Possessor(s), has reportedly suffered a second round of layoffs in less than a month, just two weeks before the release of its next game.
As reported by Game Developer, the studio confirmed an initial wave of layoffs in early October, which coincided with halting further development on Hyper Light Breaker. Now, several former employees have taken to social media to confirm that more cuts have been made.
At least four former developers have spoken out about losing their positions, sharing their experiences on Bluesky. One developer posted a video message, stating:
“Heart Machine has just laid off a bunch more people, effective immediately. By the time Possessor(s) comes out on November 11th, I don’t know if anyone who worked on the game will even be at the company anymore. That’s game dev.”
Layoffs at Launch: that's game dev.
— Yiyi (@yiyiwzhang.bsky.social) October 30, 2025 at 1:20 AM
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The post was captioned “Layoffs at Launch: that’s game dev.”
Another former team member wrote in a separate post:
“My heart is heavy and I might have more to say on that later, but I’ve got news today that my time at Heart Machine will come to an end after Possessor(s) ships. I’m honestly too busy… literally shipping the game to start actively looking for work, but I’ll be looking for my next gig in December.”
A third developer confirmed they were also let go after nearly six years at the company. While the total number of employees affected remains unclear, these reports paint a concerning picture of the studio’s stability ahead of Possessor(s)’ November 11th release.
This marks Heart Machine’s second layoff in under a month and its third within the past year, following earlier cuts tied to Hyper Light Breaker’s troubled development cycle. The studio has not yet issued an official statement addressing this latest round of layoffs, though it may be holding off until after the game’s launch to comment further.
Founded in 2013, Heart Machine quickly rose to prominence with the release of Hyper Light Drifter, one of the most acclaimed indie games of the past decade. Its subsequent projects, Solar Ash and Hyper Light Breaker, demonstrated the studio’s ambition to expand into larger 3D experiences. However, recurring layoffs, production struggles, and now uncertainty surrounding Possessor(s) raise serious concerns about the studio’s future.
With Possessor(s) set to release in less than two weeks, fans are hopeful the project will at least mark a strong sendoff for one of the indie scene’s most creative teams. Still, the timing of these layoffs casts a long shadow over the launch and may indicate deeper financial instability within the studio.
Do you think smaller studios like Heart Machine can survive in today’s industry, or are rising costs and publisher pressures making indie success harder than ever?
