Polish game development studio People Can Fly has officially confirmed the suspension of two major projects: Gemini and Bifrost. According to the studio, both projects have been canceled, and teams are being downsized, with layoffs imminent.
This marks the third major project that People Can Fly has canceled in the past year and the second wave of layoffs in just six months—a troubling sign for the once-thriving studio.
A Tough Year for the Studio
In recent months, the only positive news from the company has been its collaboration with Microsoft on Gears of War: E-Day. However, even this has not been enough to stabilize the company.
In a statement released on social media, Sebastian Wojciechowski, CEO of People Can Fly, expressed the difficulty of their current decisions:
“Today, we made the extremely difficult choice to stop working on Gemini and Bifrost. The suspension of Gemini is due to the publisher’s failure to offer a new contract to continue the next development phase. We have not received any indication of their desire to move forward or officially close the project.”
Why Project Bifrost Was Canceled
The Bifrost project, similarly, was shut down after a cash flow analysis revealed no viable path to fund its production and release. Without the needed resources and support, the project was no longer feasible.
“This is forcing us to restructure the studio significantly, which means reducing team sizes. It’s the hardest part of the process. We deeply regret having to take these steps and offer our heartfelt thanks to all team members who contributed to these projects.”
People Can Fly and Sony Collaboration: What’s Next?
Earlier this year, in March, it was announced that People Can Fly had begun working with Sony on a prototype project for one of Sony’s intellectual properties. The specific IP remains unknown, but as of now, no cancellation has been confirmed—indicating that work on that project is likely still ongoing.
Mass Layoffs Continue: Up to 120 Employees Let Go
These recent developments follow an earlier round of layoffs, during which up to 120 employees were let go. That announcement came shortly before the official cancellation of Project Dagger in *April 2024, a game that had been in development for several years.
A Studio With a Rich Legacy
Despite its current struggles, People Can Fly is a respected name in the gaming industry. The studio celebrated its 20th anniversary in 2022 and has partnered with major companies such as Microsoft, Epic Games, and Square Enix.
From 2012 to 2015, People Can Fly was owned by Epic Games and played a key role in titles like Bulletstorm, the PC port of Gears of War, and even contributed content to Fortnite.
What This Means for the Future of People Can Fly
While these setbacks are significant, the company may yet survive and bounce back, especially with ongoing projects like the Sony collaboration still on the table. However, the recent layoffs, project cancellations, and overall instability raise serious concerns about the studio’s long-term future.
