Reflector Entertainment reported two rounds of layoffs after Unknown 9: Awakening launched in October 2024, but the studio gave different explanations for them. In November, it described a workforce refocus and said the cuts were not driven by commercial success or external pressures. In January 2025, after ending work on a separate project in conceptualization, CEO Hervé Hoerdt tied further redundancies to the game falling short of company expectations. The size of that later round was not disclosed.
What happened in each round of layoffs?
| Date | What Reflector reported | Disclosed scale |
|---|---|---|
| November 2024 | Reflector described the reduction as a refocus and said it was not due to commercial success or external pressures, according to Game Developer. | 18 percent of the workforce, a figure the outlet said Reflector confirmed. |
| January 2025 | Reflector ended development on a project still in conceptualization and confirmed further redundancies. Hoerdt said the decision correlated directly with Unknown 9 failing to meet expectations, according to Game Developer. | The number affected was not disclosed in the cited report. |
What did Reflector say about the November 2024 cuts?
Game Developer reported on November 20, 2024, that Reflector confirmed 18 percent of its workforce was affected. The outlet also reported the studio described the decision as a refocusing and said it was not caused by commercial success or external pressures. That distinction matters: the studio did not publicly attribute this first round to the game’s sales or performance.
| # | Preview | Product | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
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Unknown 9: Awakening - Compatible for PS5 - UK PAL | $24.99 | Buy on Amazon |
| 2 |
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Silent Hill 2 (PS5) | $29.50 | Buy on Amazon |
| 3 |
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Ad Infinitum (PS5) | $19.97 | Buy on Amazon |
| 4 |
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SYNDUALITY Echo of Ada (PS5) | $29.00 | Buy on Amazon |
Why were there further redundancies in January 2025?
On January 21, 2025, Game Developer reported that Reflector had stopped development on a project that was still in conceptualization and confirmed another round of redundancies. The report did not give a headcount for the later cuts.
CEO Hervé Hoerdt connected that later decision to the performance of Unknown 9: Awakening. In a statement reproduced by Game Developer, he said the game’s performance “didn’t come near the company expectations” after timeline adjustments and financial and other investment, and did not warrant further exploration of the universe. This is the CEO’s stated explanation; the cited report does not provide independently verified sales or revenue figures.
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- Brand new. UK Import PAL version. Game in English. UK PSN account may be required for any online features.
What is known about the game and its wider universe?
Unknown 9: Awakening launched on October 18, 2024. Reflector announced versions for PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S and PC via Steam in its August 20, 2024 release announcement. The game was positioned as part of a broader transmedia universe that included novels, comics and a scripted podcast.
Bandai Namco Holdings announced on September 18, 2020, that its subsidiary Bandai Namco Entertainment Europe had agreed to acquire all issued shares of Reflector. That announcement described Reflector as developing Unknown 9: Awakening in partnership with the subsidiary; it documents the deal and partnership at that time, not current corporate arrangements. See Bandai Namco’s announcement.
Rank #2
- Fully Remade to terrify modern audiences
- KONAMI's intense psychological horror masterpiece SILENT HILL 2 is made exclusively for PlayStation 5
- The main protagonist James Sunderland searches for clues in the namesake town, after receiving a mysterious letter from his wife Mary… who has long been dead
- Experience the eerie monsters and other manifestations of James' consciousness reworked after 20 years
- Made with state-of-the-art technology to play on modern entertainment systems in 4K
The cancellation of a project in conceptualization and the additional redundancies do not, on their own, establish the status of every book, comic, podcast or other project in the wider storyworld. The cited reports also do not establish total layoffs across both rounds, current headcount, or a sales total for the game.
Quick Recap
Rank #4
- SURVIVE THE SURFACE: Rise from the underground to a surface world infested with hostile Enders, toxic rains, and other enemies, as you fight to loot for resources. Ride your CRADLECOFFIN, cooperate with your Magus, and stay alert around other players. One false move is all it takes to lose both your mecha and precious supplies, left to be scavenged by the remaining survivors.
- THE MAGUS - YOUR PERSONAL PARTNER TO KEEP: This humanoid AI supports in exploration, scavenging, and combat. Each model type has a different personality, and its appearance can be extensively customized. They operate by giving tailored feedback on the objective based on analysis of your previous performance in sorties so you don’t make the same mistakes twice. Keep them close, as Magus can also unleash unique abilities when you are in a tough spot!
- THE CRADLEDOFFIN - YOUR VEHICLE TO RIDE: The CRADLECOFFIN is an all-weather bipod developed for the harsh terrain of the surface. Each mecha has a different endurance level, load capacity, operation time, and can be further customized with many body parts and weapons to suit each sortie and try new playstyles. Craft new parts by collecting resources and upgrading the garage and discover how powerful a CRADLECOFFIN can become!
Rank #3
- Play a German soldier haunted by horrors of the Great War and break the cycle of suffering while your mind drifts between memories and the trenches
- Wake up as a teenager in a deserted house and suddenly find yourself in the trenches surrounded by horrific monsters; Confront your trauma and demons
- To escape the death traps and terrifying creatures you must understand each monster and solve the puzzles that stand in your way
- Peel back the shroud that hides the secrets of your family torn apart by the Great War and try to remember your past
- Through exploration and solving riddles between the walls of your home and the barbed wire of No Man’s Land you reveal a German family ravaged by war
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
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