Funcom is shutting down The Outsiders, the studio behind Metal Hellsinger

David Goldfarb, who established and directed creative efforts at The Outsiders, the studio responsible for Metal Hellsinger, confirmed that the studio has been closed by its owner, Funcom.

Goldfarb expressed his feelings in a post on Bluesky: "The layoffs at Funcom have affected everyone here, and our 10-year journey with The Outsiders will soon end."

On October 1, Funcom, located in Oslo and the developer behind Dune: Awakening, publicly announced staff reductions. In remarks shared with GamesIndustry.biz, the company noted that Dune: Awakening was their largest launch in their extensive three-decade tenure in game development, but restructuring would necessitate workforce reductions.

Goldfarb recalled how the group had "endured a close call" years prior with the cancellation of Darkborn, yet due to the team's unwavering commitment, Metal Hellsinger came into existence.

He reminisced that creating the game was a career highlight for him and expressed gratitude for the team and partnerships that brought it to life.

"We wanted to create something even greater this time around, but circumstances did not align with our aspirations," he stated.

"Nonetheless, we are determined to push forward in another capacity. Any form of support, including business opportunities, employee placements, or advice, would be sincerely appreciated. Change is challenging, and we are all having a difficult time right now. Thank you."

With these events, the estimated number of game developers who have been laid off in 2025 has reached at least 4,400. However, due to the fact that many companies, like Funcom, do not disclose exact figures, the actual number is potentially much higher.