Luna Abyss Developer Kwalee Labs Closes One Month After Release
The closure of Kwalee Labs one month after releasing a critically praised debut title shows that strong reviews do not guarantee financial survival in the current game industry.
Reporting from 1 sources: Automaton.
Kwalee Labs, the developer of the well-received sci-fi FPS 'Luna Abyss', has laid off all staff and closed its doors just one month after the game's launch. CEO Hollie Emery announced the closure on LinkedIn, stating the decision was 'completely outside of our control.' The game had earned a 'Very Positive' rating on Steam.
Kwalee Labs, the internal studio behind the sci-fi FPS 'Luna Abyss', has shut down just over a month after the game's release. CEO Hollie Emery announced on June 17 that all staff had been laid off and the studio closed. Emery said on LinkedIn that the decision was 'completely outside of our control,' suggesting Kwalee's management made the call without the studio's input. 'Luna Abyss' launched on May 21 for Steam and May 22 for PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X|S, and was also available on Game Pass. The game earned a 'Very Positive' rating on Steam, with 86% of roughly 600 user reviews positive. The studio had been developing the title for about seven years, dating back to its predecessor Bonsai Collective, and had secured a $3.5 million investment. The reason for the closure has not been clarified, but the game reportedly did not generate enough sales to cover losses or meet Kwalee's expectations.
Synthesized by Yomimono from the 1 cited source below, including Japanese-language reporting where cited, then editorially reviewed before publishing.