NetEase Spliced layoffs: remote-first AAA studio cut without shipping a single title
Summary
NetEase-owned Spliced Inc has begun redundancy proceedings three years after launch, with no publicly disclosed title ever shipped
At least one employee already laid off; multiple others flagging roles at risk on LinkedIn
Spliced is the sixth Western-facing studio NetEase has closed or divested since 2024
"Wild that a AAA studio has died without showing anything."
01
Three years of credentialed talent, zero public output
Spliced launched in 2023 as a remote-first, anti-crunch AAA studio staffed with GTA, CoD, and Red Dead veterans
No project was ever announced or shown publicly before the redundancy process began
It remains unclear whether Spliced's projects have been cancelled outright
Core risk now documented: high-cost senior rosters in decentralized structures can burn years of runway with no milestone accountability
02
Sixth Western studio NetEase has cut or exited since 2024
2025 closures: T-Minus Zero Entertainment, Bad Brain Game Studios, Fantastic Pixel Castle
Recent divestitures: Mattel163 stake sold back to Mattel; in-house studio Anchor Point shut down
Each target shares a profile: Western, AAA-adjacent, no near-term revenue contribution
Cuts came months after NetEase publicly committed to overseas operations while flagging "necessary" structural changes
Events
Companies
Games
—
Locations
China
SYNTHESIZED FROM:
COMPILED BY GAMES ATLAS EDITORIAL
RELATED ARTICLES
EXPLORE MORE
Comments (0)
No comments yet. Be the first to share your thoughts!