Rovio, the renowned developer behind the immensely popular Angry Birds franchise, is undergoing a significant staff reduction, laying off 36 employees. This decision comes as a direct consequence of one of its recent game titles performing below expectations.
A representative for the Sega-owned company confirmed that while no upcoming game projects have been canceled, their mobile game Angry Birds Dream Blast has not achieved the anticipated commercial success. The layoffs, which include some senior staff members, are part of a broader organizational shift. Moving forward, Rovio’s Finland-based team will focus on developing fewer games, while the Barcelona office is slated for expansion and increased production.
Rovio explained that this autumn’s reorganization is a strategic response to the underperforming game and a proactive measure to better adapt to market demands. The goal is to adopt a more “game-centric approach” and accelerate the iteration process for new game concepts. The company also noted that alongside the layoffs, they are actively recruiting for “several new roles.”
This restructuring follows Sega’s substantial investment of over $750 million to acquire Rovio in 2023. Sega’s primary objective in this acquisition was to strengthen its position within the competitive mobile gaming sector.
Despite the challenges in its mobile game division, the Angry Birds brand continues to evolve. In addition to a plethora of mobile titles, a third Angry Birds movie is scheduled for release in December 2026. The film boasts an impressive cast, including recent addition MrBeast, alongside returning stars Jason Sudeikis, Josh Gad, Rachel Bloom, Tim Robinson, Sam Richardson, Lily James, Danny McBride, and Keke Palmer.