Forced layoffs at Behaviour Interactive and possible link to union activity

Behaviour Interactive, the studio behind the popular game Dead by Daylight, recently announced that an unknown number of employees had been laid off. The decision was reportedly made under the pretext of declining demand for mobile and casual external development projects.

Background to the layoffs

The layoffs were largely focused on staff involved in mobile and casual work. Behaviour Interactive also confirmed that some Dead by Daylight developers were among those affected. The news came shortly after an organized union effort within the company, with employees expressing concerns about return-to-office policies and the use of generative AI in their work.

Game Workers Unite (GWU) Montreal, a volunteer organization focused on workers’ rights, recently distributed flyers inside the company offering support for unionization. That has raised questions about the timing of the layoffs.

Behaviour’s detailed statement

In response to the growing speculation, Behaviour Interactive said in a statement that the layoffs were in no way related to union sentiment. The company said: “We strongly deny the suggestion that these layoffs are in any way connected to employees’ views on unionization or generative AI.”

Behaviour Interactive says it remains focused on aligning teams and roles with current demand for external development projects. Even so, around 3% of its global workforce, which recently stood at more than 1,300 people, was reportedly affected. Media speculation puts that at roughly 40 layoffs.

Impact on the Dead by Daylight team

The team responsible for Dead by Daylight, estimated to include between 400 and 500 employees, may also have been hit by the cuts. Behaviour confirmed that about 2% of staff within that team were laid off, meaning an estimated 8 to 10 developers were affected.

That makes the layoffs at Dead by Daylight, the company’s flagship game, one of the hardest-hit projects.

GWU Montreal’s response

GWU Montreal issued a statement acknowledging the rumors of possible retaliation, but said it has no evidence of any direct link between the union effort and the layoffs. The group encouraged any workers who may have been affected by retaliation to reach out for support.

Behaviour Interactive says that despite the layoffs, it is still actively hiring for various roles, including within Dead by Daylight, and that it continues to value its player base. The studio is positioning itself for future projects despite the current challenges.

It remains unclear whether any legal consequences will follow, or whether the situation will remain limited to unverified rumors of union-related activity.