Studio behind The Bureau: XCOM Declassified and BioShock 2 Struck By Layoffs

It’s always sad to hear about people losing their jobs, especially when it’s in something as volatile as the games industry.

2K Marin, a subsidiary development studio with offices in America and Australia, has been hit by a major layoff according to a report by Polygon. No numbers were given although one source disclosed that a “majority” of the team have been affected, leaving out those who are already leaving for a new studio in the San Francisco Bay Area.

The official response reads as follows: “We can confirm staff reductions at 2K Marin. While these were difficult decisions, we regularly evaluate our development efforts and have decided to reallocate creative resources. Our goal to create world-class video game titles remains unchanged.”

You’d probably recognise 2K Marin for BioShock 2 – they did contribute to the other games in the series – and The Bureau: XCOM Declassified. While the latter unfortunately proved underwhelming in the end, BioShock 2 has its fair share of admirers. It’s a shame that we never got to see them work on an original IP these few years.

Hopefully they find new employment soon. Hang in there, folks.