Publisher drops unannounced game, Heart Machine lays off "nearly everyone"

Heart Machine, the studio behind Hyper Light Drifter, has laid off nearly all of its staff after a publisher decided not to move forward with an unannounced title. Founder Alx Preston confirmed the cuts on LinkedIn, saying the studio still exists but is in a precarious position and that affected staff will receive placement support. The cancelled game would have been Heart Machine's fifth, following Hyper Light Breaker's halted development and a smaller round of layoffs, with Possessor(s) released weeks later.