CCP to reduce its workforce by 20%, refocusing on EVE and Dust 514 development

CCP has announced it's to layoff approximately 20 percent of its staff, with most redundancies occurring in the firm's Atlanta, Georgia offices, with select positions at the firm's Reykjavik, Iceland studio also affected.

According to the official announcement, development on the EVE Online expansions, DUST 514, and its World of Darkness MMO have had overreaching effects on the company's resources.

CCP's plans are to "sharpen," its focus on EVE Online and DUST 514, and continue development on World of Darkness with a "significantly reduced team."

"As we reexamine our outward relations, we are also taking time to reevaluate our internal goals," read the announcement. "In doing so, we have come to the conclusion that we are attempting too many things for a company our size. Developing EVE expansions, DUST 514 and World of Darkness has stretched our resources too thin.

"Rather than allowing this to persist, we have made the decision to sharpen our focus. Sadly, this means reducing our staff. We estimate that around twenty percent of global positions will be affected by this process. These will be predominantly in our Atlanta, GA office, although select positions in our Reykjavik, Iceland office will be affected.

"We are very sad to lose some of our talented and dedicated colleagues to this necessary process. Naturally we are making every effort within our means to help them find alternative employment. Decisions like these are difficult for all those involved and extraordinarily sad for all of those whose lives are affected."

CCP went on to state the layoffs had nothing to due with any decrease in player numbers for EVE Online, as the game is in "good health," and subscriber numbers are "higher today than they were a year ago."

The game has continued to grow year-on-year since its launch in 2003, despite a recent decline in player numbers over the last two months from summer's peak numbers.

The firm attributed the slight decline in the player-base to its "own mistakes," and "poor communications" with the community, and said it's correcting these issues now.

Thanks, Massively.