Surgent Studios announced on October 18, 2024, that it was putting work in its games division on hiatus while seeking funding for its next project. The announcement also said team members had been put on notice for redundancy. At the time, GamesBeat reported that the studio was looking for a publishing partner and had a prototype that had not received a greenlight. This is a report of a 2024 event, not a statement about the studio’s current staffing.
What Surgent announced in October 2024
Surgent Studios said it was pausing work in its games division while it secured funding for its next project. In a statement reproduced by Nintendo Life on October 18, 2024, the studio said: “We’ve decided to put the work of the Surgent games division on hiatus while we secure funding for our next project. In the meantime, we’ve unfortunately had to put our team on notice for redundancy.”
| # | Preview | Product | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
|
Renegade Game Studios Wraith & The Giants Solo Strategy Card Game | $32.99 | Buy on Amazon |
The wording matters: the studio described a hiatus in the games division and a redundancy notice to the team. The cited reports do not establish how many people were affected, and the notice should not be treated as proof of how every individual’s employment ultimately ended.
Why the studio paused the games division
Surgent said the pause was to secure funding for its next project. GamesBeat’s October 18, 2024 report said the studio was seeking a publishing partner, and that a prototype for the next game had not been greenlit. A prototype is not the same as an approved, funded production, so the report described a project still awaiting a partner and approval rather than a game confirmed for release.
Quick wins for a faster PC:
Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →#1 Best Overall
- Solo Strategic Gameplay: Battle Elemental Giants through tactical card combos and chaining mechanics that reward clever decision-making and strategic planning across multiple challenging encounters
- Four Unique Boss Fights: Engage four distinct boss battles across three different Wraith ages, ensuring high replayability and fresh strategic challenges with each playthrough
- Award-Winning Design: Created by acclaimed designer Scott Almes with rich narrative by Bryan C.P. Steele, delivering polished mechanics and immersive storytelling for discerning solo gamers
- Epic Fantasy Theme: Experience a gripping narrative where you inherit your grandmother's duty to protect your village from catastrophic destruction by powerful Elemental Giants
- Complete Game Experience: Includes three Wraith boards, four Giant boards, multiple card decks, tokens, and story book providing hours of engaging solo entertainment in 30 to 45 minutes
GamesBeat also reported that earlier layoffs followed Tales of Kenzera: ZAU performing below expectations. That is GamesBeat’s account, not a financial disclosure from Surgent; the cited sources do not state the studio’s funding target or provide a figure for the project’s finances.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.What the 2024 hiatus does—and does not—tell us now
The announcement is historical. Surgent’s current official site lists Tales of Kenzera: ZAU (2024), Dead Take (2025), and FixForce (2026) among its projects: Surgent Studios’ project listing. Those later listings show that the studio has had other work; they do not establish the outcome of the specific prototype discussed in 2024 or explain what happened to people placed on redundancy notice.
The studio’s About page currently says it is not accepting applications and lists no vacancies: Surgent Studios’ About page. That status can change and is not evidence about the 2024 redundancy process.
Quick Recap
Sources and dates
- Nintendo Life, Jim Norman, October 18, 2024: reproduces Surgent’s statement about the hiatus and redundancy notice.
- GamesBeat, Imran Khan, October 18, 2024, updated June 18, 2025: reports the publisher search, prototype without a greenlight, and earlier layoffs.
- Surgent Studios’ official site: current project listing.
- Surgent Studios’ official About page: current applications and vacancies status.
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.
Do these 3 things before closing this tab:
1Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errors2Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitches3Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problems
