Heart Machine lays off staff, winds down development on Hyper Light Breaker

Indie studio Heart Machine is laying off staff and ending active development on its early access title Hyper Light Breaker (HLB), less than a year after the game’s launch. The studio confirmed the move in a statement to Game Developer, citing “broader forces beyond our control” as the reason for the cuts and project conclusion.

Launched in early access on January 14, 2025, Hyper Light Breaker was positioned as a spiritual successor to Hyper Light Drifter, the studio’s acclaimed 2016 debut. An open-world, online rogue-lite, Breaker entered with high expectations but currently holds a “Mixed” rating on Steam, based on over 2,500 user reviews.

The studio had previously reduced its workforce in November 2024 but expressed hope that Breaker’s launch might “rekindle opportunities” for affected staff; that optimism has since faded. “As we wrap up our work on Hyper Light Breaker, we’ve had to make the difficult decision to part ways with a number of talented team members,” said a Heart Machine spokesperson. “This was not our ideal path, but rather the only one available given the circumstances.”

While the exact number of layoffs wasn’t disclosed, the studio emphasized that the decision was influenced by shifting funding conditions, increasing corporate consolidation, and the unstable climate facing small indie teams.

Heart Machine added that one final update is planned for January 2026. The patch is intended as a polished conclusion to the project and a “thank you” to players. “We’re doing our best to refine what we can, complete key systems, and have the game culminate in a satisfying punctuation point,” said a spokesperson. No additional updates or community Q&A sessions are planned for the rest of the year.

The studio says it will continue making games with a smaller core team and expressed gratitude to everyone who contributed to its projects.