People Can Fly Confirms Layoffs and Cancellation of Two Major Projects
Polish developer People Can Fly, known for Outriders and Gears of War: Judgment, has announced a significant restructuring following the cancellation of two major projects: Project Gemini and Project Bifrost.
In a heartfelt statement, CEO Sebastian Wojciechowski revealed that the studio has made the painful decision to suspend both projects due to external and financial challenges.
"Today we made a very difficult decision to suspend the development of Project Gemini and Project Bifrost — the relevant updates have been shared with the public," Wojciechowski wrote.
Reasons Behind the Cancellations
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Project Gemini (a collaboration with Square Enix) was halted primarily due to the publisher’s failure to deliver a draft of the content rider — a critical addendum to the publishing agreement that defines future milestone terms. Additionally, there was a lack of communication from Square Enix regarding the project’s future.
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Project Bifrost (a self-published initiative) faced similar issues: uncertainty around publisher intent, combined with a sobering assessment of the studio’s cash flow and available resources, made it impossible to continue.
Wojciechowski emphasized that these decisions were not made lightly.
"As a result, we must significantly restructure as a studio and reduce our team sizes — which is the most painful outcome. We deeply regret how these events have unfolded and sincerely thank everyone for their contributions up to this point."
Industry Context
This marks another major setback for the studio, which already underwent a massive downsizing at the end of 2023, cutting 120 roles. The latest round of layoffs — though not quantified — follows the same pattern of shrinking headcount amid shifting development priorities and strained publisher relationships.
Despite these setbacks, People Can Fly remains active on several fronts:
- Project Echo: In collaboration with Krafton (developer of Bluehole and PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds).
- Project Delta: Partnering with Sony.
- Gears of War: E-Day: A new entry in the Gears franchise, developed with Microsoft.
The studio’s most recent release, Bullestorm VR, is a reimagined version of the classic shooter, now available on Meta Quest and PSVR 2.
Publisher Silence
While Square Enix is confirmed as the publishing partner for Project Gemini, the company has not responded to inquiries about the cancellation. No official comment has been issued from Square Enix regarding the project’s suspension.
Looking Ahead
The cancellation of Gemini and Bifrost signals a difficult chapter for People Can Fly — a studio once celebrated for its ambitious game design and cinematic flair. As it focuses on surviving and stabilizing, the future of original IPs at the studio remains uncertain.
Still, the continued work on E-Day, Echo, and Delta suggests that People Can Fly is attempting to reposition itself as a reliable partner in larger, established franchises — even as it grapples with internal and external pressures.
For now, the message is clear: the road ahead will be tough, but not all lost.
