Take-Two Interactive's Visual Concepts studio has cut staff once again, this time targeting the team behind WWE 2K26 as the next installment inches closer to release. The move marks the third round of reductions at the studio in three years, following cuts in September 2023 and August 2024 at its various locations. At least seven employees confirmed their departures via LinkedIn posts dated around May 13, 2026, including a software engineer who noted the impact on "many of my very talented colleagues" and a systems game designer who reflected on three-plus years of work with gratitude for the team.

A game designer shared a particularly personal account, revealing they had just been diagnosed with an autoimmune disorder that will shorten their lifespan and were let go while on a sick day due to the condition. 2K and Take-Two offered no confirmation or details when approached, stating only that they had nothing to share at this time. This continues a broader pattern of reductions across 2K subsidiaries, including recent moves at Cat Daddy Games in July 2025, Firaxis in September 2025, and 31st Union earlier in 2026.

The layoffs appear to have hit the WWE 2K development group hardest according to reports, raising the usual questions about resource allocation at a publisher known for its annual sports titles. No specific details emerged on how the cuts might affect WWE 2K26 timelines or features. The franchise marches forward under the same studio banner despite the ongoing industry bloodletting.

X posts from the day highlighted employee frustration, with one affected staffer stating they were "passionate about this franchise and about wrestling as a whole" but would move on. Community reactions on platforms like Reddit echoed prior rounds, noting the Austin office's repeated exposure to these trims. Insider Gaming reported the WWE team bore the brunt, adding to the tally without a follow-up to any Netflix Edition tie-ins.