Unknown 9 developer Reflector Entertainment lays off 18% of its staff

Update: Reflector Entertainment has confirmed in a post on its website that 18% of its workforce has been laid off.

The studio attributed this decision to entering a new phase of development, and the affected people “are not assigned to the roles that our active projects require.”

The company has said it is supporting those who have been laid off by “providing them with severance packages, as well as access to medical, emotional and career planning support.”

Original story: Reflector Entertainment has reportedly laid off an unknown number of staff, just a month after the release of its debut title, Unknown 9: Awakening.

The job cuts were first reported by Kotaku reporter Ethan Gach via BlueSky, and GameDeveloper noted that some of the affected employees have also spread news of the layoffs via LinkedIn.

It’s unclear how many staff have been cut, although QA, marketing, art and narrative teams are believed to have been affected. Narrative and game designer Anna Karina Bermudez and brand manager Manou Deneuvel are among those now looking for new employment.

Reflector Entertainment is the developer behind Unknown 9: Awakening, the first in a series of action-adventure games with a transmedia universe built around it. Other Unknown 9 media includes a podcast audio drama, novels, and a comic series.

The studio landed Bandai Namco as a publisher, with the Japanese company acquiring Reflector in 2020 before the release of Unknown 9.

Unknown 9: Awakening was originally due to release this summer, but was delayed to October 18, 2024. It was released to mixed reviews and it’s unclear how well it sold.

GameIndustry.biz has contacted Bandai Namco for confirmation and comment.