Rovio lays off 110 people as Angry Birds hype fades

[compl3x]

Rovio has confirmed that 110 people will lose their jobs as the Angry Birds maker also shuts down its game-development studio in Tampere, Finland. The layoffs, first announced in October, amount to about 14 percent of the company's workforce.

 

It had been expected that Rovio would make 130 people redundant but after a round of consultations this number has now been reduced. Rovio said that as a result of the redundancies "several positions" have been opened for internal applications. The actual number of employees out of work will depend on how many new internal positions are filled.

 

The closing of its Tampere development studio means that Rovio will move all of its Finnish operation to its Espoo headquarters. The company shot to fame in 2009 when it released Angry Birds, its 52ndgame. The title went on to become the most downloaded mobile game of all time.

 

After hugely increasing its workforce in 2012 Rovio's net profits almost halved the following year. At the time chief financial officer Herkko Soininen said the poor profit figures were because of major investments in the company. But Rovio's expansion into animation and merchandising continued to hit its profits hard, leading to today's 110 redundancies.

 

Rovio still plans to release an animated Angry Birds film in 2016.

 

This story originally appeared on Wired UK.

http://arstechnica.com/business/2014/12/rovio-lays-off-110-people-as-angry-birds-hype-fades/

 

[remixedcat]

One trick pony... or bird..

[DreadPirateRoberts]

An animated Angry Birds film?

 

That's going to be one of the weirdest films ever made.

[link6155]

An animated Angry Birds film?

 

That's going to be one of the weirdest films ever made.

 

They already have a TV series.... and it's pretty bad.

[techbeck]

I was done with Angry Birds a long time ago. Surprised the hype lasted this long

[123456789A]

Ok good, it's dying off! Now can the following also disappear: Candy Crush, Facebook, Java, Justin Beiber, Adobe Flash, Ebola virus, World of Warcraft

[spaceelf]

Ok good, it's dying off! Now can the following also disappear: Candy Crush, Facebook, Java, Justin Beiber, Adobe Flash, Ebola virus, World of Warcraft

They also won't.

[Asharae]

Ok good, it's dying off! Now can the following also disappear: Candy Crush, Facebook, Java, Justin Beiber, Adobe Flash, Ebola virus, World of Warcraft

 

Hey! Leave World of Warcraft alone! :P

[dead.cell]

Why not make something OTHER than just Angry Bird? Ugh...

[compl3x]

An animated Angry Birds film?

 

That's going to be one of the weirdest films ever made.

 

 

It's going to be one of those things we look back on in, like, 15 or 20 years and think "wtf were they thinking". Like looking back at weird ###### from the 80s now.

Why not make something OTHER than just Angry Bird? Ugh...

 

Probably just milking it for everything it was worth. As long as people are paying up there is little reason to innovate, thinks the lazy man.

[Doli]

I wonder how much damage was done when they thought a $50 Angry Birds console game was a good idea

[Dot Matrix]

Star Wars Angry Birds was fun. Sad to see so many loose jobs. :(

[protocol7]

Why not make something OTHER than just Angry Bird? Ugh...

 

They actually had a cool mobile series before Angry Birds called Darkest Fear. Played it on my old Sony Ericsson phone. Once AB took off it disappeared.

[Knife Party]

one stone many angry birds

[Ralph3100]

Hi there! That's pretty sad news indeed and I wonder why provision isn

[Jim K Global Moderator]

Ok good, it's dying off! Now can the following also disappear: Candy Crush, Facebook, Java, Justin Beiber, Adobe Flash, Ebola virus, World of Warcraft

 

Also include Kim Kardashein (however you spell it) and Katy Perry.  Note:  I'm talking about the apps...since I'm not violent...though the world would be just a bit better w/o Kim.

 

Surprised Angry Birds lasted this long.  Only so much you can do with that style of puzzle game...and they've made a bunch.

[firey]

Ok good, it's dying off! Now can the following also disappear: Candy Crush, Facebook, Java, Justin Beiber, Adobe Flash, Ebola virus, World of Warcraft

What exactly is wrong with WoW?

[Ryoken]

I'll still take Angry Birds over most games.  But really, you gotta give them prop's on not only how successful it got, but for how long.

[sorlag]

So they hired nearly 800 people for building angry birds?

[Ryoken]

...Where are the unions? 

 

You'll find most groups dealing with IT/Programming have no interest in Unions. Why? Because while in theory it's there to protect you, your job, etc.. in reality it ends up costing you part of your paycheque every month, and protests the guy who doesn't do his job and should have been fired ages ago. Every time I've ever had to interact with a Union, it's them threatening to Strike over someone who should be fired. Sometimes over someone who imho should be brought up on Criminal Charges.