Reflector Entertainment has laid off 18% of its staff following the failure of Unknown 9: Awakening

When a game doesn't take off, the impact reverberates far beyond the graphics on the screen. Reflector Entertainment, the studio behind Unknown 9: Awakening, confirmed that 18% of its team will be laid off. According to the company itself, the cut is part of a "different phase of development", but the market has already read between the lines: it's the price of a launch that didn't deliver as expected.

In the official statement, signed by Marc-André Séguin, general manager of Reflector, the justification is clear: "With the recent release of Unknown 9: Awakening and our two main production lines entering the early stages of development, we need to ensure that our team is fully focused on contributing to the projects that truly benefit from their skills." The translation? Restructuring after a campaign that burned more resources than it generated.

Although the exact numbers have not been disclosed, it is believed that sectors such as QA, marketing, art, and narrative were the most impacted. Among the professionals now seeking new opportunities are narrative and games designer Anna Karina Bermudez and brand manager Manou Deneuvel, as reported by Games Industry.

It is impossible not to relate the layoffs to the lukewarm performance of Unknown 9: Awakening, which promised to be a different narrative experience but failed to engage the audience. Productions like this require robust teams, but when the return doesn't match the investment, the bill comes due.

For industry observers, the lesson is clear: even big promises can stumble, especially in a saturated market. For Reflector, now it remains to prove that the "new phase of development" will have focus and direction — and hopefully, better results.