Recent Layoffs at BHVR

Well that sucks.
I made a thread suggesting changes on the new survivor perks, with the only downside to those changes I bothered listing being 'the effort and resources required to make those changes.' Something tells me not to be too hopeful on those changes anymore… not that I was before, but still.

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That said, I'm curious what positions those layed off had.
If you check out behaviour's website, they're hiring quite a few artists and game designers as we type, including a position for an unannounced IP. That suggests to me that DBD is still doing well, making money, and they can justify pumping more resources into it (hope rekindled?).

I am assuming the layoffs were related to other internal projects then, with a focus on roles that were not artists or programmers, since I would assume they would just attempt to reallocate those resources into the positions that are currently open into their website.

Maybe that means layoffs focused on roles like marketing, artists whose styles don't fit with DBD, underperformers? Maybe even supportive roles like customer service reps, IT, etc. since there's less people to support?

Either way, I think DBD is probably peachy, fine, and dandy.

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That said, feel bad for those layed off - wish them well and good luck with their next employer.

Oof, posts like this cause me personal inner turmoil.

On the one hand, dishonest practices like this can exist to appease stakeholders. While Behaviour Interactive is, I believe, a private company, that doesn't mean it is exempt from having strict contracts or expectations that result in divestitures (ranging from banks, to other companies, to select individuals). As such, there can be a feeling of need to create the picture of growth even when stagnation or decline occurs to maintain those relationships and resume regular operating activities, ultimately saving peoples jobs. So these types of dishonest practices can be done even with good intentions by well meaning people, and are not restricted unscrupulous leaders and management.

On the other hand, I dislike these types of dishonest practices in general, regardless of the reason. I also tend to like Behaviour as a company, despite my issues with some of their decisions (especially related to this game). So a large part of me does not want to believe this is the case where Behaviour is a lying, manipulating, typical, money-grubbing, value-spoofing, dishonest, snake-in-the-grass company.

Sooo yeah, you're right, it's possible.
But given the lack of evidence for or against this being the case, I'm going to opt not to believe that is what they are doing; however, I did leave some colorful adjectives in the previous paragraph to passive aggressively insult them in the event that I'm wrong. Even if done for good intentions.

We don't have the full picture as to why; just the statement and a couple of Twitter comments.

Maybe there is some good reason for this, or maybe this was a flawed decision, we do not know.

Until there's more clarity I'm quite happy to consider this standard business news for now. I do hope the statement is correct in BHVR helping those made redundant find employment, since lay-offs are a horrid thing to have done - be they necessary or not.

My guess is that they had people who could fill more than one role and decided to downsize the people who were mostly specialized on one aspect. I couldnt say that this was a good or bad choice but I know that its the reason a lot of the time when a company is downsizing. Since none of us gamers are behind the walls its hard to say this was a bad call or why it happened but if I was to guess and this is merely what ive seen elsewhere its that its sometimes hard to get a full on team to focus on a direction when you have so many people going in different ways and they perhaps are trying to maybe speed up the pipeline and increase productivity by having fewer inbetween steps. Again tho this is merely my speculation I do not work for BHVR but its sorta what ive seen happen at other companies in the last few years so I merely guessing based on that detail. Hopefully everyone who was laid off had ample time to set up a new job and it wasn't just dropped on them in a blink of an eye.

Im sorry for all of you

I’ve always thought this, too!

My sister got me in to DBD back in 2019. I remember when I first started playing SWF with her I assumed the game was fairly new and in development stages. When she told me (at that time) the game was three years old I couldn’t believe it!
As great as the game looks and how much new content we get, it’s pretty crazy that all these years later there are so many goofy bugs that are just “part of DBD”. When you actually look at it diplomatically, it’s pretty crazy that a game in its eighth year is as buggy as it is! As you said, when you take away all the chapters, skins, content etc, the foundations of the game are still pretty rocky.

small? we still pretending that?

also, I will never, ever, take the company side on big layoffs. neither should anyone else.

won´t take a neutral stance either. if the company wants any sympathy, they must come clean on their reasons.

I panicked for a second seeing you link to Dork. I'm glad she's staying with us, she must be protected at all costs.

This is very sad news, and I'm sorry to all the devs who have been told they no longer have a place on the team. I appreciate all the love and hardwork they've put into DBD for our enjoyment. They've helped build the game to what it is today and the powers that be should be thanking them, not letting them go.

probably compared to larger studios, yeah

why are people so quick to be anti company? it's not like these actions are taken out the blue or without good reason

sometimes it's more complex than we think or can see. The small company I work for recently had to let some ppl go; turned out the reason was because there was a covenant in our loan agreement that required our debt service ratio to be under X amount at specified dates. If we failed to be under then it would have resulted in substantial payments being due to the lender which would have had more of a negative impact on the company than the few layoffs that occurred in some of our stores. Very negative feedback from our local managers and privately they suggested it was typical corporate greed (understandable) but it was more complex than simply saving money where possible

Unfortunately this kind of thing happens often, and has been happening all across the industry.

The company I work for did the same thing a few months back, and it was scary cause they announced it at 10am in the morning and said "we'll let those of you who are affected know via private e-mail by 5pm today".

We all sat trying to do a day's work, not sure if we still had a job at the end of the day... Thankfully I'm in the UK, so at least in my case it would have a notice to serve... but our colleagues in the US could literally lose their job on the spot...

Although it's not surprising to hear this happen to BHVR, and being a professional in the industry you understand why it happens, it is a horrible experience all round. Everyone feels crap about it, whether its the shame and heartbreak for lower level manager/team leader who has to tell the employee (sometimes their friends), the stress and worry for the people who lose their jobs, or the guilt and loss for the people who keep their jobs. Just a sad experience for everyone.

Much love to the people of BHVR and to anyone who has had to move on, hope you're all doing OK 🧡

‪People is overeacting and every single industry make this things, politics, money and other stuff, i dont understand why everyone is crying about it, its sad and obviously collegues suffer for that and every people need to be respect, but this is how industries works. People need find to do and stop cry for this‬. Otz is considering leave the fog whispers because of this, we are just people consuming the game and we dont live on a mistic space where everything is lovely and beautiful and BHVR loves all of us. Again, every industry and corporation make this everywhere, everytime. If people will boycott every company made that, people will be live in the vaccum

Otz has said a few of his friends lost their jobs, which is why he is upset. I think it's perfectly normal to feel upset on behalf of your friends.