On Monday, Unity Software Inc. announced a significant restructuring plan aimed at streamlining its operations and improving efficiency. The plan includes a workforce reduction of approximately 1,800 employees, representing roughly 20% of the company’s global workforce.
In a memo to employees on Monday, interim CEO Jim Whitehurst said that Unity is “reducing the number of things we are doing in order to focus on our core business and drive our long-term success and profitability.”
The restructuring plan also includes the consolidation of certain product lines and the closure of some of Unity’s global offices. Unity expects these measures to result in significant cost savings over time.
This is the fourth round of layoffs at Unity in the last year amid instability at the company. Last October, John Riccitielo abruptly stepped down as president and CEO following backlash from the development community about controversial monetization plans.
Once Riccitiello departed, former IBM president James Whitehurst was appointed interim CEO. Whitehurst told Reuters at the time that Unity was looking at changes to “refocus” the company. Later that month, Unity announced plans to cut 265 jobs as part of a broader company “reset.”
While Unity navigates its path forward, the broader gaming industry grapples with a period of significant change and uncertainty. The economic landscape and evolving player preferences demand constant adaptation, but the human cost of these adjustments cannot be ignored. Last year, over 9,000 people lost their jobs.
Moving forward, collaboration and innovation will be crucial to foster a sustainable and vibrant future for the industry and its dedicated workforce.
