Virtually side-by-side with the discharge of shock Nonetheless Wakes the Deep growth Siren’s Relaxation, it seems that developer The Chinese language Room has laid off an unknown variety of staff. The cuts will apparently not have an effect on the schedule of the studio’s present venture, Vampire: The Masquerade – Bloodlines 2, nonetheless, as writer Paradox Interactive says it stays on monitor for October.
The layoffs got here to gentle by means of messages posted on LinkedIn (through Recreation Developer) by various former staff. “The scourge of redundancy has struck, and so I am on the lookout for new alternatives,” VFX artist Jamie Berry wrote in a single. In one other, technical producer Pascal Siddons wrote, “We’re none of us protected from the headsman’s axe when redundancy time comes round.”
3D animator Bradley Adams wrote in his personal put up, “My present position and plenty of others have been affected by current occasions and so I’m in search of a brand new alternative.” Senior setting artist Adam Sharp additionally referred to “many others” in his personal identically-worded put up about being laid off.
The layoffs could also be the results of ongoing struggles at Sumo Digital, which acquired The Chinese language Room in 2018. In June 2024, Sumo Group laid off 15% of its workforce and closed Timbre Video games, after which in February 2025 it introduced a “strategic resolution to focus Sumo Digital solely on growth companies for companions,” which it warned “would have an effect on our studios and folks.” One of many staff posting about being laid off, Callum Munro, was a senior technical help at Sumo Group, a place that included offering on-site help for The Chinese language Room.
The cuts are particularly alarming on condition that they arrive amidst The Chinese language Room’s efforts to complete Bloodlines 2, which it has been engaged on since 2021 when it took over growth from Hardsuit Labs. It has not gone completely easily since: A current preview had PC Gamer’s Fraser Brown feeling good about the place the sport is headed, but it surely’s additionally been delayed a number of instances, most lately in March, when it was moved again from summer season to October 2025.
Neither The Chinese language Room nor Sumo Digital have publicly commented on the layoffs. In an announcement shared with PC Gamer, nonetheless, Bloodlines 2 writer Paradox Interactive successfully confirmed that some cuts have taken place, saying that it’s going to not have an effect on the sport’s launch.
“Improvement on Vampire: The Masquerade – Bloodlines 2 is unaffected by the current staffing adjustments at The Chinese language Room; the sport remains to be scheduled for an October launch,” a Paradox consultant stated. “We want these affected one of the best of luck on their future endeavors.”
Although October is now simply 4 months away, a selected launch date nonetheless hasn’t been introduced.
