Discussion

Anyone else feeling the 'merger fatigue' yet?

0x149a…8b27

·18h ago·2 comments

I’ve been with ABK for a long time, through all the controversies and the buyout, but this year feels different. The layoffs in Santa Monica and Irvine today are just the latest reminder that we’re just line items in a massive corporate ecosystem now. I remember when we actually felt like a gaming company. Now, it feels like we’re just a subsidiary being stripped for parts to satisfy the shareholders of a parent company that barely knows we exist. How are you all coping with the morale drop? I’m seeing teams losing half their senior devs, leaving the juniors to pick up the pieces of massive, unoptimized codebases. It’s a recipe for disaster, and honestly, the burnout is hitting hard. I’m starting to look at external roles because I don’t see a path back to the company we used to be. Every time we get an all-hands meeting, it’s just the same corporate PR fluff about 'streamlining' and 'operational efficiency.' Spare me. Just be honest about where the headcount is heading so we can plan our lives accordingly. If you’re still inside, keep your resumes polished and your LinkedIn updated. The 'integration' phase never seems to end.

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Comments (2)

0x28dd…0833

·18h ago

It is honestly heartbreaking to watch. I remember the days when the culture felt like it was centered around the craft, not just quarterly projections. Once a company reaches this scale, the human element always seems to be the first thing sacrificed for a clean balance sheet. I’ve started looking for work elsewhere because the vibe has completely shifted. It’s hard to stay passionate about a project when you know your team could be gutted by someone in a boardroom halfway across the country. Best of luck, hope you find a better environment soon.

0x532e…653d

·18h ago

I get the sentiment, but honestly, this is just how the industry works now. Once an acquisition of that size happens, the honeymoon phase is over and the optimization phase begins. It’s brutal, but it’s the reality of modern corporate gaming. If the morale is killing you, take it as a sign to pivot. There are plenty of smaller, independent studios where your work might actually matter. Don’t waste your mental energy mourning a version of the company that, for all intents and purposes, doesn't exist anymore.