It is claimed that the decision to shut down the Hungarian office is a result of the publisher's shift in focus toward the console and PC markets.
French video game publisher Gameloft has reportedly shut down its Budapest, Hungary studio.
According to the Hungarian outlet HVG, the publisher closed its Hungarian office laying off about 90 employees. The Budapest studio had been operating for over a decade working on free-to-play mobile titles. City Mania and Dragon Mania Legends are among the games developed by the studio, with the latter being one of Gameloft's most popular titles, boasting over 50 million downloads.
Gameloft has reportedly told HVG that the closure is a result of the company's shift in focus toward the console and PC markets. As a consequence, the mobile game business, which has been a significant part of the company since its inception in 1999, will allegedly receive less attention.
The spokesperson for Gameloft acknowledged that the closure of the Budapest office was a "difficult" decision, and assured that the company is actively "working to find the best possible solution for the affected employees."
Gameloft's announcement of the Budapest office closure comes just two months after the promotion of Alexandre de Rochefort from chief financial officer to CEO. Having been a long-standing employee of the company for 22 years, de Rochefort stated his intention to usher in "a new era for Gameloft as a cross-platform game developer and publisher."
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