Piranha Games, developer of the MechWarrior series, has conducted a staff reduction of approximately 30 percent. CEO Russ Bullock confirmed the layoffs on X, describing the event as a 'horrible day' that occurred the previous Monday.

This marks the second round of significant headcount adjustments at the studio within the past 16 months, following the layoff of 38 employees in January 2025. The earlier cuts were tied to MechWarrior 5: Clans performing below sales expectations, as reported by parent company Enad Global 7.

Bullock directly addressed speculation from former employee Arman Nouri, who claimed 60 percent cuts and a pivot away from MechWarrior, stating 'Not accurate. It was 30% of the staff... but we do still continue to work on DLC.' Narrative Director Chris Lowrey described a 'brutal week,' noting goodbyes to longtime colleagues but reaffirming the team's commitment to ongoing MechWarrior support.

The reductions span various roles including writing, VFX, art, and engineering, with affected employees citing 'economic restructuring' on LinkedIn. Despite assurances of continued DLC—such as MechWarrior 5: Mercenaries in May—the metrics point to persistent profitability pressures in a saturated market for niche simulation titles.

In the broader context of Enad Global 7's portfolio, these adjustments align with efforts to ensure sound financial operations amid underwhelming sales performance.