LucasArts overhaul underway
Sackings and reorganisation stateside
US developer LucasArts yesterday admitted that "a major restructuring of its development studio" is underway, with several lay-offs confirmed as part of a move to stall a downward trend in quality and sales success. Thirty-one members of staff have been axed, with Peter Hirschmann promoted to vice president of product development.
"Since joining LucasArts in early May, I've taken a hard, critical look at our business," recently appointed president Jim Ward commented. "I've come to the conclusion that to make LucasArts thrive, and to position ourselves for the long-term future, we need to make some fundamental changes."
In-house development has been scaled back to focus on quality rather than quantity, with third-party developers now seemingly the way forward, as outlined by the movement of LucasArts new Episode III game to developer The Collective. Early development work on Knights of the Old Republic 3 has also been placed on the 'back-burner', with the team in charge reportedly axed in yesterday's sackings.
More on the changes afoot at LucasArts soon.
