Skate Developer Full Circle Hit With Layoffs Despite Tens of Millions of Players

Skate developers Full Circle have been hit with layoffs, as announced via the Skate X account in an important update.

The statement, which thanks the tens of millions of players who have stepped into San Vansterdam, explains that the team will be reshaping Full Circle to better support skate.’s long-term future. See below for the full statement:

“To our skate. community,

Since launching Early Access in September, tens of millions of you have stepped into San Vansterdam. Your passion, creativity, and feedback have reinforced our belief in what skate. can become. As skate. continues to evolve, we’re transforming as a studio. We’re reshaping Full Circle to better support skate.’s long-term future and focus the team on the things that matter most to you - and making those things great. 

These shifts mean making changes to our team structure, and some roles will be impacted. The teammates affected are talented colleagues and friends who helped build the foundation of skate. Their creativity and dedication are deeply ingrained in what players experience today. This decision is not a reflection of their impact and we’re committed to supporting them through this transition.

Our work on  skate. continues. We look forward to working with you as we move faster, listen more closely, and deliver consistently for all of you. Our commitment to skate., and to the millions of players who believe in it, remains strong.

To our departing teammates: thank you. skate. exists because of your hard work and dedication to the craft. 

To our community: thank you for your passion and trust.

–  Full Circle”

There is no mention of how many members of the Full Circle team will be affected by the layoffs as the studio restructures to better serve players. Downsizing in order to “better serve the players” feels like a step backward. With tens of millions of players, the team is still expected to scale down. What does it take to retain talent at a studio?

Let us know what you think about Full Circle restructuring to serve players better in the comments below.