{
  "id": 7876497,
  "title": "Hyper Light studio Heart Machine lays off 'nearly everyone' after publisher deal for unannounced game falls through",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/16/hyper-light-studio-heart-machine-lays-off-nearly-everyone-after",
  "topic": "tech",
  "section": "Tech",
  "published": "2026-09-16T21:01:30.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "PC Gamer",
    "slug": "pc-gamer",
    "url": "https://www.pcgamer.com/gaming-industry/hyper-light-studio-heart-machine-lays-off-nearly-everyone-after-publisher-deal-for-unannounced-game-falls-through/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Heart Machine, creators of the Hyper Light games and Possessor(s), has announced the layoff of almost all their staff due to the failure of a publisher deal for their next game. Studio founder Alx Preston disclosed the difficult news on LinkedIn, stating that the publisher had decided to halt funding for the unannounced project. With this crucial income gone, the studio's survival now hinges on finding alternative sources of revenue. Preston emphasized that the company would provide support to affected employees, including assistance with job placement. He expressed willingness to connect with potential employers for Heart Machine's talented and dedicated team members. The studio's earlier titles, Hyper Light Drifter (2016) and Solar Ash (2022), received mixed reviews, with the latter's early access version being abruptly discontinued following previous layoffs. Heart Machine's most recent release, Possessor(s), garnered mostly positive feedback on Steam, but failed to attract a large player base. Studio founder Preston expressed uncertainty about the studio's future, stating that while they would continue searching for a solution, the path forward remains unclear at this juncture.",
  "summary": "Studio founder Alx Preston said he's \"not sure yet what's next for Heart Machine to survive.\"",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "IGN",
        "title": "Studio Behind Hyper Light Drifter In Peril After Publisher Withdraws Funding for Unannounced Project",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/16/studio-behind-hyper-light-drifter-in-peril-after-publisher-withdraws",
        "published": "2026-09-16T19:46:54.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}