The studio behind the critically acclaimed Zelda-like Hyper Light Drifter is at risk of shutting down after a recent publishing deal fell through. Heart Machine has laid off most of its remaining staff and its future is now unclear following more recent game releases that didn’t break through.
“I have very difficult news today,” studio head Alx Preston wrote on LinkedIn on September 16. “We had been working on an unannounced title, funded by a publisher. This week, the publisher decided to no longer move forward with it. Without this key income for the studio, any other immediate prospects or other funds, nearly everyone at the studio had to be laid off. It’s devastating.”
The statement continued:
Everyone will be provided with as much support as possible, including assisting with placement. If you know of any roles for extraordinarily talented, kind people, please reach out and we will coordinate.
Thank you so so much to all of the incredible people who contributed their efforts and talents to making amazing things at the studio. Thank you to our amazing community and fans.
Right now, I’m not sure yet how or if Heart Machine survives. Navigating an increasingly challenging industry has been extremely difficult. However, we’ll keep pushing to build a path.
2016’s Hyper Light Drifter won fans with its retro pixel art, moody, top-down environmental storytelling, and incredible soundtrack. The studio’s follow-up, Solar Ash, charted an ambitious shift to 3D with great platforming and similarly intriguing vibes.
But 2024’s Hyper Light Breaker was a loot-based roguelite action-RPG that didn’t impress and eventually petered out in Early Access. And last year’s Possessor(s) was a side-scrolling Metroidvania with clunky controls that felt rushed out. Layoffs at Heart Machine began last fall, and a short-lived pivot to Patreon shut down earlier this year.