Dumb Ways to Die Developer PlaySide Announces Layoffs After Delivering Record Revenue
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- PlaySide Studios announces restructuring and layoffs a month after reporting record annual revenue of $41.34 million.
- The restructure is expected to save from $2.5m to $3.2m annually but will cost the company $950,000 upfront.
- The restructuring plan came a month later as new CEO Benn Skende took over the role.
Layoffs will be a part of restructuring plans at PlaySide Studios, the Australian developer behind the popular Dumb Ways to Die franchise. Despite reporting record annual revenue of $41.34 million just months ago, restructuring will affect staff according to the recently published note to investors.
According to the company’s statement, the decision follows a slowdown in securing new work-for-hire contracts, with the company citing delays in contract wins as the driving force behind the operational shift.
The restructuring is expected to bring cost savings of approximately $4 million to $2.5m to $3.2m annually. However, the company will incur upfront restructuring costs of $950,000. Despite the changes, PlaySide has assured investors that its original titles, such as the upcoming MOUSE: P.I. for Hire for console and PC, will continue to progress as planned, with no disruption to active projects with partners like Meta, Activision Blizzard, and Netflix Games.
New CEO Benn Skender, who took over the role just a month ago in March 2025, explained that the company must adapt to build a more resilient business model for the future. “We have an obligation to our employees and shareholders to ensure that we remain competitive and positioned for growth,” Skender said. “At the same time, we will continue to focus on turning our original IPs into successful, revenue-generating titles.”
Founded in 2011, PlaySide Studios has become one of Australia’s largest game development companies, with over 360 employees across its Melbourne and Gold Coast offices. The studio has worked on more than 70 titles. Notably, PlaySide signed a long-term licensing deal with Warner Bros. to develop two titles based on the Game of Thrones IP and secured an 18-month contract extension with Meta.
