<a href="https://delimiter.online/blog/kabam-layoffs-la-office-consolidation/” title=”OtherSide Entertainment”>OtherSide Entertainment, the developer behind the upcoming stealth game Thick as Thieves, has conducted another round of layoffs. The cuts affected 18 employees working on the title. The news follows a period of restructuring for the studio, which had previously announced the game’s debut for the 2025 release window.
The layoffs were confirmed via posts from affected developers on social media and by the studio itself in a brief statement to the press. The company stated that the decision was made to align resources with the current scope of development. No further details regarding the exact roles or departments impacted were provided by the studio.
The cuts come roughly two months after OtherSide Entertainment announced that Thick as Thieves would launch in 2025, with a closed alpha test scheduled for earlier this year. The game is described as a competitive multiplayer stealth title set in a fantasy world filled with thieves and magical artifacts.
Background
OtherSide Entertainment was founded by Paul Neurath, a veteran game designer known for the Ultima Underworld and Thief series. The studio previously released System Shock 3 before the project was halted. Thick as Thieves represents the company’s attempt to return to its immersive simulation roots.
Prior to these layoffs, the studio had already undergone significant downsizing in recent years. In 2024, the company reduced its workforce as part of a broader recalibration of its development pipeline. The new cuts suggest that financial pressures remain high for independent studios in the current market.
Industry Context
The layoffs at OtherSide Entertainment are part of a wider wave of job cuts across the video game industry in late 2024 and early 2025. Major publishers and independent developers alike have been affected by shifting consumer spending habits, rising development costs, and a saturated market for new titles.
According to data tracking firm Game Industry Insights, more than 10,000 game industry workers have been laid off globally in the past 12 months. Smaller studios have been hit hardest, as they lack the financial reserves of larger companies to weather extended development cycles.
Reactions and Statements
Several former employees expressed disappointment on professional networking platforms, noting the loss of colleagues and the uncertainty around the project’s completion. None of the affected individuals were named by the studio. One former developer stated that the team had been working diligently on the alpha version of Thick as Thieves and hoped the project would continue.
OtherSide Entertainment has not announced any replacement hires or indicated whether the development timeline for Thick as Thieves will be affected. The studio has also not commented on the total number of employees remaining at the company after the layoffs.
Impact on Thick as Thieves
The game was first publicly shown in 2023 and has generated interest among fans of the stealth genre. The alpha test, originally planned for mid-2025, is expected to proceed as scheduled, though internal delays are possible given the reduced staff. The studio has not updated the game’s official release date in light of the layoffs.
Players who registered for the alpha test have not received any notices regarding delays. The developer has provided no public update on its website or social media channels about the current state of the game’s development or the team size.
Looking Ahead
It remains unclear how the reduction in workforce will affect the final quality or launch window of Thick as Thieves. The studio is expected to issue a formal update within the next few weeks, according to industry watchers. Investors and fans will be watching for any signs of further downsizing or studio closure.
For now, OtherSide Entertainment continues to operate, but with significantly fewer resources. The future of the studio and its flagship title depends on whether the remaining team can deliver the promised features and content within the original 2025 timeline. No indication has been given regarding a potential delay or cancellation.
Source: GamesIndustry.biz
