July 3, 2026
1 min read
The harsh mathematics of modern game development hit home again as a veteran studio is downsized to a single-digit team, leaving questions about what comes next.
By Chuy, Senior Staff Writer
Jul 3, 2026 · Reviewed by the Nexzy newsroom

AI illustration
Thick as Thieves studio (OtherSide Entertainment) has reduced its workforce to fewer than 10 employees after laying off another 18 team members. It is the kind of organizational slimming that turns the phrase "skeleton crew" from a standard industry metaphor into a literal head count.
The future of the studio "does not look good" following the staff reductions, according to reports on the cuts. The departures mark a drastic downsizing, leaving a tiny remaining team to navigate the fallout of an empty office.
For a studio trying to maintain its footing, losing 18 staff members in a single sweep is less of a minor adjustment and more of an evacuation. It leaves the remaining group with the unenviable task of holding down a fort that has suddenly gotten much larger and much quieter.
The details
When a development studio shrinks to single-digit personnel, its operational capacity changes entirely. The focus shifts instantly from hitting production milestones to basic survival. For the remaining employees, the road ahead becomes significantly steeper as they attempt to manage a studio's footprint with a fraction of the hands previously on deck.
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