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Not with a bang, but a whimper.
https://www.gamasutra.com/view/news/318724/Wargaming_Seattle_is_shutting_down.php
https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2018/05/24/wargaming-seattle-aka-gas-powered-games-to-close/
https://www.gamasutra.com/view/news/318724/Wargaming_Seattle_is_shutting_down.php
Wargaming Seattle is shutting down
Word is spreading today that Wargaming Seattle is shutting down, potentially eliminating over a hundred jobs.
This is a big deal given that Wargaming Seattle is the Redmond-based studio formerly known as Gas Powered Games, which was founded in 1998 by Chris Taylor and other former Cavedog devs.
During its lifetime Gas Powered became known for series like Dungeon Siege and Supreme Commander(as well as the early DotA-alike Demigod), but after a failed Kickstarter campaign the ailing studio was acquired by Wargaming in 2013.
Taylor wound up leaving the studio in 2016, and now (according to at least one former dev) the studio itself is reportedly closed. Gamasutra has reached out to Wargaming for confirmation and an explanation, but has yet to hear back.
In the meantime, developers around the industry are sharing potential job leads via the Twitter hashtag #WGJobs to try and help former Wargaming Seattle devs get back on their feet. The hashtag previously appeared in late 2016, after Wargaming shut down its Bellevue-based mobile game studio WGCells.
As always, if you or someone you know was affected by this event you can contact Gamasutra to tell your story in confidence.
Update: A former Wargaming Seattle dev tells Gamasutra that a surprise "all-hands" meeting was called at the studio this morning, and during that meeting Wargaming chief Victor Kislyi announced the entire studio (estimated to employ roughly 150 people) would be shut down.
https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2018/05/24/wargaming-seattle-aka-gas-powered-games-to-close/
Wargaming Seattle, aka Gas Powered Games, to close
Wargaming, the folks behind free-to-play mega-hit World Of Tanks, have confirmed that they are closing the Seattle studio formerly known as Gas Powered Games. Y’know, Gas Powered, the Supreme Commander and Dungeon Siege lot. 150 people had been working at Wargaming Seattle on an unannounced MMO, the company said, but the studio is closing as Wargaming restructures.
Wargaming bought Gas Powered in 2013, a time when the Redmond-based studio (I guess Seattle is more glamorous for a name) seemed to be on the verge of closing.
Gamasutra yesterday reported on rumours that the studio was to close, hearing from a former employee, and Wargaming have since confirmed it.
“Wargaming will be closing their Redmond development studio as part of the company’s restructuring process,” they told us in a statement today. “Every member of the 150-strong team that has been working on an unannounced MMO project will be offered a severance package.”
They say they’ll help people apply for other positions elsewhere in Wargaming, if they want, and add that “We would like to express our gratitude and thank everyone on the team for their hard work.”
Wargaming don’t say much more about their decision to close the studio.
Wargaming have another eighteen (!) offices scattered around the world, mind, so this is far from the end of them.