News
Possessors Hyper Light Breaker studio Heart Machine Studio Layoffs

Report: Heart Machine Is Laying Off Employees A Second Time This Month, Weeks Before Its Next Game

by Wesley LeBlanc on Oct 30, 2025 at 02:46 PM

Heart Machine is laying off more employees this month, just a couple of weeks before the launch of its next game, Possessor(s), on November 11. Earlier this month, the studio announced it was laying off an unknown number of employees and ending development on its Early Access game, Hyper Light Breaker

This news comes from Game Developer, which reports that at least four former Heart Machine employees were laid off this week, as indicated by Bluesky posts made on October 28 and October 29. While the number of employees laid off earlier this month and this week remains unknown, one former developer posted a video explaining that Heart Machine, which crafted the well-received Hyper Light Drifter and Solar Ash, laid off a "bunch more people, effective immediately," adding that by the time Possessor(s) launches next month, they aren't sure if anyone who actually worked on the game will still be at Heart Machine. 

The hearts of Game Informer are with everyone affected by these Heart Machine layoffs. 

[Source: Game Developer]

Products In This Article

Possessor(s)cover

Possessor(s)

Platform:
PlayStation 5, PC
Release Date:
Hyper Light Breakercover

Hyper Light Breaker

Platform:
PC
Release Date:
Canceled