Reports that a lot of people are losing their jobs at Disney Interactive appear to be genuine, as the publisher is beginning what it calls a “restructuring process” that will move away from traditional packaged games and toward the digital media games space. 

“As part of setting a strategic direction for future success in the digital media space, the Disney Interactive Media Group [Disney Interactive Studios' parent company] today began a restructuring process,” Disney said in a statement given to Variety earlier this morning. 
 
Around 250 people at Disney Interactive have been let go during a “first round” of layoffs over the last 24 hours, according to Joystiq. This news follows the recent reports of an unknown amount of layoffs at Junction Point, the studio who put out Epic Mickey.     

Reports that a lot of people are losing their jobs at Disney Interactive appear to be genuine, as the publisher is beginning what it calls a “restructuring process” that will move away from traditional packaged games and toward the digital media games space. 

“As part of setting a strategic direction for future success in the digital media space, the Disney Interactive Media Group [Disney Interactive Studios' parent company] today began a restructuring process,” Disney said in a statement given to Variety earlier this morning. 
 
Around 250 people at Disney Interactive have been let go during a “first round” of layoffs over the last 24 hours, according to Joystiq. This news follows the recent reports of an unknown amount of layoffs at Junction Point, the studio who put out Epic Mickey.     

Man. Sad news.

Looks like Disney is beating something of a tactical retreat after a strong push to get into games in a serious way. Best wishes to all the people cut loose, hope everyone lands on their feet.

This is what happens when you give an awkward, overly ambitious N64-throwback game an absurd budget.

Good luck to the layoffs.

Well Junction Point hired a whole load of people for Epic Mickey, it was only to be expected that they would no longer be necessary after the game finished.

major bummer.

This always sucks to hear happening, best of luck to those developers/artists/ect.

Hope Johnny V isn't part of the layoffs. Dude's getting married.

So if their going the way of digital distribution, will they still be helping with Kingdom Hearts?

250 O.o whoa... that sucks.

Kinda sucks. Disney got into publishing in a real big way really quickly. And it seemed like they were going in the right direction. They just got stuck with some mild stinkers right out of the gate. Split/Second was really good though.  
 
Has there been any word on how well Epic Mickey or Tron sold? 

SAVE JOHNNY V!

Here's hoping Johnny V keeps his job! I hate hearing about layoffs, companies should be expanding not contracting

Ok people, NOW is when you can start worrying about Johnny V's job.

Hope Johnny V isn't affected by any of this. Fingers crossed for him.

Damn, and more to come?

yep, being a developer sure sounds like a lot of fun, you do all the hard work only to be disposed off when not needed anymore while all the suits that kept pestering you to rush the development process get to keep their jobs.

" Hope Johnny V isn't affected by any of this. Fingers crossed for him. "

Sad stuff - Epic Mickey had some problems but I enjoyed it and my girlfriend loved it.  Though from the stance of Spector being brought on to make this game and getting a team together, it does seem like they had planned this to be a one time thing.

So many layoffs everywhere. As the biz gets bigger, some competition is pushed out. sad.

Man that's a bummer. 

I hope Junction Point gets to do more Mickey Mouse stuff, as contrary to Ryan's review I really liked Epic Mickey despite its flaws.

Johnny V told me yesterday he is fine.

People that are blaming Epic Mickey for this need to refocus where they're looking.  The writing should have been on the wall when Armada of the Damned was axed without any public explanation.  This sounds like something that Disney had been plotting for a while, now.

Didn't Epic Mickey sell fantastically? Seeing people getting laid off or studios getting shut down after a game ships is so disheartening.

Why Disney didn't sell Epic Mickey on all platforms is beyond me. The person who decided that is the one who should be fired.

" Why Disney didn't sell Epic Mickey on all platforms is beyond me. The person who decided that is the one who should be fired. "

Why I find particularly strange is that Epic Mickey apparently sold over 1.5 million copies*.
So does that mean even a million-plus seller these day can't support it's own budget?
Or is it that Epic Mickey sales couldn't support other failed projects?
 

 (*NDP numbers via Gametrailers' Invisible Walls #143)

" Why I find particularly strange is that Epic Mickey apparently sold over 1.5 million copies*. So does that mean even a million-plus seller these day can't support it's own budget? Or is it that Epic Mickey sales couldn't support other failed projects?    (*NDP numbers via Gametrailers' Invisible Walls #143) "

" Ok people, NOW is when you can start worrying about Johnny V's job. "

I blame Johnny V for all this, i think it was all downhill when he called that guy "Horsey", but seriously it''s pretty bad news

Seems like such a knee jerk move.  Why spend all the time establishing to just bow out.  Christ, work on it a few years.
 
I thought Split/Second was great, Epic Mickey was a disappointment but sold regardless, Tron is so obviously suffering from a rush job (it isn't lacking in imagination, it's lacking in playtesting), and Armada of the Damned looked really cool.  They've gone from having all the potential to be a big publisher with a ton of IP behind it to just another fringe media corporation shilling bullshit games.

Aw man, I hope Johnny V's alright. Gotta suck for everyone involved, though.

This is pretty shitty. Good luck to anyone who lost their job and all the best to them. 
 
Once again, just goes to show that making games is an expensive venture, and it's really hard to maintain a level of viability when your games just don't sell and garner the revenues that were expected of it, unfortunately. Here's hoping these studios can fare better in digital shelf space and deliver better and more commercially viable games in that realm.

First they came for Johnny V's job, and we did nothing.

That sucks. Hopefully Johnny V is safe.

Look like WBI won this battle.

Bummer, my kids liked Epic Mickey problems and all. Was hoping to see an improved second one come out.

Bummer. This is always so depressing to hear/read, especially if you're wishing to someday get involved in this industry.  
 
I sincerely hope Black Rock stays fine. There's some incredible racing game talent in there. 

I really hope Blackrock stays together.

This is all because of John's Ice-T impression at PAX!!  
I KNEW THIS WOULD HAPPEN!!

doesn't surprise me given the negative reviews for most of their recent releases, including all of the post-PS2 KH games.

" doesn't surprise me given the negative reviews for most of their recent releases, including all of the post-PS2 KH games. "

Fuck Disney. Epic Mickey was shit but that's no reason to go the direction of casual games. 

"That sucks. Hopefully Johnny V is safe. "