Funcom confirms redundancies in the US

Reports suggest 70% workforce let go

25 November 2008 12:29 GMT / By Verity Burns

Funcom, the developer behind popular MMORPG Age of Conan, has confirmed it has made some redundancies in the States, but has said it "does not want to mention any specific numbers".

Even so, a report over the weekend has hinted that QA and customer services roles were cut, which accounted for around 70% of the workforce.

Trying to put a positive spin on the whole affair, Funcom admitted the redundancies while in the same breath announcing the opening of new positions within the company.

"We did have some staffing cuts at Funcom this week as well as new positions opening in the organisation as part of our ongoing cost based efficiency and performance initiatives that are vital to any business", said Funcom in an official statement. The company has declined to comment further at the time of writing.

Age of Conan: Hyborian Adventures launched from the developer earlier this year and despite promising pre-orders, the decision was made to merge game servers in order to create "healthy communities for the game in the future".

Co-founder and producer Gaute Godager left his position in the company in September after saying he was dissatisfied with the game.

Funcom is just the latest in the line of publishers and developers letting staff go under pressures of the current economic climate. Earlier this month, EA announced it would be cutting 500 jobs, and has since shut down two of its divisions within the company.