Dead By Daylight Developer Strongly Denies Layoff Rumors Tied to Union Efforts
Last week, the team behind Dead by Daylight faced a wave of layoffs, affecting an undisclosed number of employees. The company stated that those let go were primarily involved in “mobile and casual external development projects,” attributing the cuts to a decline in demand for these types of initiatives. However, it was also revealed that some developers from the core Dead by Daylight team were among those affected. The timing of these layoffs, coming right after a recent push for unionization and some internal policy changes, has raised eyebrows regarding the true reasons behind the cuts.
In conjunction with the layoffs, a post on Reddit surfaced, suggesting that a union organization had recently approached the company and distributed flyers, hinting at a possible link between the two events. Conversations with former employees confirmed that Game Workers Unite (GWU) Montreal, a volunteer labor group, had indeed visited the studio weeks prior to the layoffs to hand out pamphlets.
These former employees also shared that there had been growing concerns within Behaviour about the return-to-office policy and the potential implementation of generative AI. Notably, some of the more outspoken employees regarding these issues were among those laid off.
In response to inquiries, Behaviour firmly denied any connection between the layoffs and the discussions around unionization or AI. Their statement emphasized:
“We want to emphatically refute the suggestion made in the Reddit comment you referenced. These layoffs were in no way related to any employee’s sentiments regarding unionization, AI, or anything else. These adjustments are about aligning specific teams and roles with the demand we’re seeing on the external development side of our business and projects’ changing priorities on the first-party side of our business. We recognize the impact on those affected and are committed to providing meaningful support throughout this transition.”
The company acknowledged the challenges facing the industry and reiterated its commitment to adapting and maintaining a strong position, supported by an engaged player base and solid partnerships. They also mentioned ongoing hiring across various projects, including Dead by Daylight.
Behaviour indicated that the layoffs primarily affected mobile and casual external development projects due to a drop in interest. While this is technically accurate, it doesn’t capture the full scope of the situation. The company reported that about 3 percent of its workforce was impacted, which, given their claim of over 1,300 employees globally, translates to nearly 40 individuals.
Specifically, around 2 percent of the Dead by Daylight team was affected. With an estimated 400 to 500 people working on the game, this means that between 8 and 10 team members were let go. This indicates that a significant portion of the layoffs came from the team behind the flagship title. Additionally, at least one individual who announced their departure had recently worked on Serious Sam Shatterverse, a game revealed last month.
Even if we assume this represents the full extent of layoffs among major projects, it’s evident that the impact was broader than suggested, especially considering the company’s current success. They have 35 open positions listed on their website, and just last month, during an interview at the Game Developer’s Conference, Behaviour’s head of partnerships and the creative director of Dead by Daylight expressed enthusiasm about the game’s performance and the company’s growth.
Unless a rare lawsuit arises, it’s unlikely we’ll ever know definitively if union-busting played a role in these layoffs. GWU Montreal stated they “can’t confirm that [retaliatory layoffs are] what happened at Behaviour,” but they acknowledged awareness of the rumors and encouraged anyone who feels they faced retaliation for pro-union sentiments to reach out for support and discuss their rights.
