Wednesday, August 21, 2013

Big Fish Whacks Staff As Mobile, Social Games Pressure Casual Model

Seattle-based Big Fish Games is going through a big layoff today, as the shift from PC-based casual games to mobile platform has taken its toll on the company. Big Fish has laid of 49 of its employees at its Seattle headquarters, and also shutting down operations in Cork, Ireland. According to a message sent to employees by Big Fish CEo Paul Thelen, it is in the midst of a "realignment" of its employees, due to the "ever-changing landscape of casual gaming". Big Fish said it would refocus on its "free-to-play" casual and casino games areas, where it has been seeing the most growth for the company. The company is de-emphasizing its "premium casual" business---the casual games it has offered to consumers, which have been particularly hard hit by the rise of social and mobile games, which for the most part have been free.