US EditionHyper Light Breaker Studio Will End the Game's Development and Lay Off Staff
Heart Machine ends Hyper Light Breaker development after nine months in Early Access with mixed reviews and ongoing layoffs amid industry funding and consolidation challenges.
- Heart Machine is ending development on Hyper Light Breaker and laying off staff less than nine months after its January 14, 2025 Early Access launch on Steam.
- After a turbulent Early Access launch, Heart Machine says its struggles reflect 'broader forces beyond our control,' while players complained about performance and difficulty.
- Steam data show Hyper Light Breaker holds a 64% Mixed user-review rating from over 2,500 user reviews, with a major update two months ago seen as a last-ditch effort.
- Heart Machine pledged to support impacted staff and continue making games with a smaller core team, while its upcoming game Possessor remains due next month.
- Known for earlier hits Hyper Light Drifter and Solar Ash, Heart Machine faced November 2024 layoffs and plans a January update with no further updates for the remainder of 2025.
19 Articles
19 Articles
Following the triumph of Hyper Light Drifter, many expected the sequel to be no less impressive. However, Heart Machine has encountered difficulties: Hyper Light Breaker has only garnered 64% positive reviews on Steam. The project recently left Early Access, but the developers have already announced the end of further support. The last update was released on September 23rd. The post "Heart Machine Ends Support for Hyper Light Breaker and Places …
The Heart Machine team will focus on polishing Hyper Light Breaker before phasing out development. Independent studio Heart Machine has announced a new wave of layoffs and the gradual end of development on Hyper Light Breaker, its new action exploration game launching in Early Access in January 2025. The news was reported by Game Developer, which received a statement from the studio confirming the team reduction and transition to a final phase o…
Heart Machine Confirms Layoffs, Ending Development on Hyper Light Breaker
Heart Machine, the studio behind Solar Ash, Hyper Light Drifter, and, more recently, Hyper Light Breaker, has confirmed in a report from Game Developer and in a post on its official X (formerly Twitter) account that it will layoff an undisclosed number of developers, specifically hitting the Hyper Light Breaker team. Furthermore, the development of Hyper Light Breaker, which is still in early access, is winding down and coming to an end sometime…
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