Ballistic Moon studio shuts down: single-project remake model collapses in 16 months
Summary
Ballistic Moon, the UK studio behind the 2024 Until Dawn remake, was dissolved on February 3, 2026
A strike-off application was filed with UK Companies House in November 2025
The studio cut significant headcount in September 2024, one month before the remake even launched
The closure documents a full failure arc of the single-contract, no-IP studio model in 16 months
"It is with deep regret and a heavy heart that we must make the tough decision to significantly scale down our team to secure the future of our studio"
01
Layoffs preceded launch, dissolution followed within 16 months
Founded in 2020 by Duncan Kershaw, Neil McEwan, and Chris Lamb
Until Dawn remake was the studio's first and only major release, launching October 2024
September 2024: studio announced significant cuts, citing "complex challenges" in the industry
November 2025: strike-off application filed with UK Companies House
February 3, 2026: company formally dissolved
02
Middling reception closed the path to a follow-on deal
Metacritic score of 70 and user score of 6.8
Criticized for performance issues and a $60 price point seen as poor value versus the 2015 original
Steam reviews were more forgiving at 81% positive
Pre-launch layoffs suggest the studio already knew post-contract revenue would not sustain the team
03
Work-for-hire on unowned IP left no survival runway
Ballistic Moon built its entire business on one contracted AAA remake for an IP it did not own
No owned IP, no second project, and no disclosed follow-on deal at time of closure
Pre-launch headcount cuts indicate cash reserves could not bridge delivery to a next contract
For VCs and studio operators, this is a documented failure mode of single-title work-for-hire
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Locations
United Kingdom
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