Disney lays off 700 jobs at interactive branch

[Kwartel]

Disney is laying off 700 people from the interactive unit that makes video games and operates websites, about a quarter of the workforce in the division.

A Walt Disney Co. spokesman confirmed the layoffs Thursday.

The move narrows the company's focus on mobile and social games that use key Disney characters. Some games that Disney acquired when it bought social game maker Playdom in 2010 for $563 million, such as Sorority Life, will be discontinued.

It is also discontinuing one-time hits, such as music play-along game, Tap Tap Revenge.

Well, to be honest.. It's not like they've done much in the way of great things lately. It's sad for the people who lose their jobs but meh..


Source

 

[Bladexdsl]

di$ney is evil!

 

[DJPlace]

well before Disney Interactive came along we had good Disney Games... then it started to go down hill one by one...

 

[FAST6191]

"Damn, we bought a lemon when we thought we were getting a classic. Time to strip it down and rebuilld it"

 

[Clydefrosch]

well, how else to raise profits?
disney infinity just pushed them into black numbers and making a new game is such a risky thing to do. but removing 25% of the workforce is a save thing to make numbers look pretty

 

[Gahars]

Is this really right?

Calling Disney Interactive a branch, I mean. It's more like an aborted twig than anything else.

 

[Taleweaver]

So...did they really bought Lucasarts just for the star wars movies?

 

[Guild McCommunist]

So...did they really bought Lucasarts just for the star wars movies?

LucasArts was an affiliate of LucasFilms. They got it with the purchase, whether they wanted it or not.

LucasArts, I'm pretty sure, was liquidated once LucasFilms was purchased. Star Wars games are being outsourced to Activision when needed. Although the only Star Wars game on the horizon is Battlefront III.

 

[Clarky]

LucasArts was an affiliate of LucasFilms. They got it with the purchase, whether they wanted it or not.

LucasArts, I'm pretty sure, was liquidated once LucasFilms was purchased. Star Wars games are being outsourced to Activision when needed. Although the only Star Wars game on the horizon is Battlefront III.

I thought it was EA who got the exclusive star wars licence right now?

 

[Guild McCommunist]

I thought it was EA who got the exclusive star wars licence right now?

Yeah I think that's it, sorry. Got them confused.