LucasArts cuts hit Force Unleashed team after all
LucasArts may be "proud of the work" that members of its internal Star Wars: The Force Unleashed team put forth on the upcoming title, but Joystiq has learned that it nevertheless laid off a number of key personnel on the title earlier this month during its company-wide downsizing.
We spoke with one now ex-member of the team, who told us that the layoffs came just as work on the game was wrapping up. Our source, who wished not to be named, is one of several long-time members of the LucasArts talent pool let go, many of which had worked on titles including X-Wing, Full Throttle, and Grim Fandango.
Should The Force Unleashed live up to the hype surrounding it, and a sequel is ordered, the current team size is said to be insufficient to handle such an undertaking. Given the fact that LucasArts stressed a continued commitment to internal developement following the layoffs, it will just need to re-staff for such a project – in which case, it has already let some top talent go – unless it intends to outsource to an external developer.
