Shroud’s Spectre Divide dev team hit with layoffs weeks after launch

As a gamer with years of experience under my belt, I’ve seen the highs and lows of the gaming industry. The news about the layoffs at Mountaintop Studios, the developers behind Spectre Divide, is a stark reminder of the rollercoaster ride that game development can be.


13 members of Shroud’s Spectre Divide development team were recently laid off, coinciding with the game’s launch as a tactical shooter. The studio is making adjustments to focus on long-term maintenance and support.

Following a short trial phase, Spectre Divide made its PC debut on September 3rd. With strong marketing efforts led by former professional Counter-Strike player and widely recognized Twitch streamer shroud, the 3v3 tactical shooter peaked with more than 30,000 simultaneous players on Steam.

The game, featuring a distinctive twist by enabling players to command two characters and switch between them freely, also boasting a comic-like visual style, initially caught attention. However, this attention wasn’t entirely favorable. Spectre Divide encountered criticism due to high costs for in-game cosmetic items, prompting the developers to make a swift change in response.

22 days post its release, the development team at Mountaintop Studios, responsible for Spectre Divide, has unfortunately announced job cuts. A total of 13 employees received notice that their positions were no longer required as of September 25.

13 individuals were let go from Mountaintop Studios, the creators of the fashionable 3v3 shooter game, Spectre Divide, which debuted on September 3rd. It must be quite disappointing to finally unveil your creation, only to find yourself out of work afterwards.

— Nicole Carpenter (@sweetpotatoes) September 25, 2024

In a memo obtained by Polygon’s Nicole Carpenter, CEO and Co-Founder Nate Mitchell revealed that they had to take a challenging step to ensure the sustained success of Spectre and its community: the reduction of 13 full-time positions at the studio.

We are incredibly grateful to these team members for the tireless effort and commitment they’ve shown towards Spectre over the past few years.

It’s clear that the team continues to strive towards attracting more spectators and expanding the Spectre fanbase in the near future. As of now, Mountaintop is said to have a staff of around 50-100 full-time workers.

With fewer players and a deteriorating average review score on Steam, it’s clear that the remaining staff members will face a challenging climb ahead.

To add, the main character of the game often shows signs of anger following extended playing periods, which is unusual for this usually calm live streamer.

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2024-09-26 01:48