Heart Machine, the studio responsible for Hyper Light Drifter, has laid off nearly its entire staff after an unnamed publisher withdrew funding for an unannounced project this week.

Founder Alx Preston detailed the cuts in a LinkedIn post, stating the studio lacked other immediate prospects or funds to continue operations, resulting in the mass layoffs described as devastating. Support including placement assistance will be provided to those affected, though Preston noted uncertainty about the studio's survival amid broader industry challenges.

This marks the latest in a series of setbacks for Heart Machine, which previously ended development on Hyper Light Breaker following early access issues and conducted multiple prior layoff rounds in 2024 and 2025. The studio's entity persists for now, but its path forward remains unclear.