11 Bit Studios, an established game development company in Poland, has recently let go of an unspecified number of employees. The team made this announcement on their website, stating that they have decided to halt production on Project 8, which was anticipated to be their first game aimed primarily at console users. Development for Project 8 kicked off in 2018, and by 2024, it had grown to involve 37 dedicated team members.
The studio has invested a substantial amount of resources into Project 8, totaling PLN 48.4 million, which is equivalent to $11.8 million. This decision to cancel the project was made after a “thorough evaluation.” It appears that Project 8 encountered numerous challenges along the way, including significant disruption during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The company’s president, Przemysław Marszał, shed some light on the situation by explaining, “Our ambition for Project 8 was to develop a bold and captivating experience for console gamers. However, when we began, the market was quite different, and narrative-driven, story-rich games were more in demand.”
Marszał went on to elaborate, “Whenever we assess a project, the Management Board thoroughly considers its developmental progress through internal reviews and independent surveys. We also take into account market trends and the game’s potential in sales and marketing. Regrettably, for Project 8, our analysis revealed several unresolved issues and challenges. Addressing these would’ve required more time and a larger budget, and when paired with adjusted sales forecasts accounting for the evolving market, it cast serious doubts on the project’s potential profitability.”
