Fortis Games, a publisher with heavy financial backing that purchased multiple studios over the years, is shutting down, with hundreds of people set to lose their jobs.
The news, which was first reported by Gamesbeat, comes just days after it was announced that its game Twilight Towers was going offline on Monday, November 16.
An abrupt closure
Based in San Francisco, California, Fortis Games was co-founded in 2022 by former EA and WB Games executive Steven Chiang, Shawn Foust, and Calvin Lau. The company was backed by Las Vegas Sands, allowing Fortis to buy studios such as Oktagon Games, Doppio Games, and Metagame.
Over the years, the studio focused primarily on mobile games, including the aforementioned Twilight Towers. The company also continued to grow with staff around the world, working on games such as Bloom & Breakfast and Mergemon Wilds.
News of the layoffs began circulating on social media, with many employees taking to LinkedIn to comment on the company’s closure.
“Ah, Fortis Games — what could have been,” communications director Scott Butterworth said. “Despite our unique, community-focused approach to the mobile games market, we just couldn’t seem to get off the ground, and today, we finally ran out of runway.”
One employee, Gustavo Coronet, called the closure “abrupt”.
“Las Vegas Sands has chosen to end funding and part ways, terminating all of the contracts, worldwide,” he added.
Fortis Games has not officially announced the studio’s closure, nor has it responded to requests for comment. In total, up to 440 people will be out of work as the end of the year approaches.
What are your thoughts on the Fortis Games shutdown? Let us know down in the comments and in the official Insider Gaming Discord.
In other news, read about layoffs hitting Skydance’s games division just weeks after the acquisition of Warner Bros. Games. For even more Insider Gaming delivered directly to your inbox, sign up for our newsletter.
Mike has been covering the gaming industry since 2012, and has reported on some of the largest events in the industry while also working as an investigative reporter. Outside of…
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