The Coalition staff expect layoffs after E-Day ships

Staff at The Coalition are worried about another round of layoffs after Gears of War: E-Day ships. September’s Xbox cuts mostly spared the studio, but several people told Eurogamer, anonymously, that they will not feel secure until months after launch.

They said Microsoft’s planned reductions for the current financial year are not finished. Narrative director Juan Vaca lost his job shortly before release. Eurogamer reports that some other departures were not announced publicly.

Bonuses tied to the game’s results are a separate worry: an employee has to still be on staff when the money is paid. Eurogamer says those payments are expected near the end of October, so cuts could land almost immediately after launch, before the team has time to mark the end of the project.