Gears of War Studio Fears Mass Layoffs After E-Day Release

The Coalition, a Microsoft-owned studio behind the Gears of War franchise, is facing uncertain times. Developers working on October 6's Gears of War: E-Day have expressed fears for their jobs and bonuses. Despite being spared from recent Microsoft gaming layoffs, staff now feel that their time could be up soon.

The loss of story director Juan Vaca two weeks ago has shaken the confidence of remaining team members. They had hoped to escape the axe due to the game's impending release and subsequent patching and support. However, morale has been destroyed by teammates disappearing just before what should have been a celebratory moment.

Staff are now expecting further layoffs or reorganization under Activision later this year. The 'Metacritic bonus', a payout for achieving a certain score based on critics' reviews, is also at risk. Developers who receive layoff notices could no longer be eligible for the reward, which is expected to be paid out near the end of October.