Tomb Raider developers Crystal Dynamics make yet more layoffs, with"just under 30" workers losing their jobs

Company say it's a "a way to optimize the continued development of our flagship Tomb Raider game"

Tomb Raider developers Crystal Dynamics have announced another round of layoffs, their third round of jobs cuts this year. The studio say "just under 30 team members across various departments and projects" are losing their livelihoods, and claim this is necessary "to optimize the continued development of our flagship Tomb Raider game, as well as shaping the rest of the studio to make new games for the future".

This year alone had already seen Crystal Dynamics lay off staff in two waves, with 17 employees being let go in March and an unspecified number of others handed their marching orders in August.

As with that August round, these latest layoffs were announced via a LinkedIn post. "We've parted ways with just under 30 team members across various departments and projects as we restructure the company and business for our next generation," the studio wrote. "Crystal deeply thanks all of those impacted for their incredible talent, hard work, and dedication, which helped shape the studio in so many ways. We are committed to offering our fullest resources and support to you during this transition."

"We've made these painful choices as a way to optimize the continued development of our flagship Tomb Raider game, as well as shaping the rest of the studio to make new games for the future," they added.

So far, principal animator Shamil Rasizade and producer Samantha Dobes have posted to LinkedIn that they've been let go as part of these cuts. "It’s been a fun 12 years, and I will greatly miss everyone. But I suppose it’s time to join the army of unemployed game devs. You know how it goes these days. If you hear of anything, please let me know," the former wrote.

Solidarity and best of luck to all those affected by these layoffs.