Keoken Interactive, developer of Ship Us The Moon and Ship Us Mars, has laid off practically its complete workers. The studio’s two founders are the one remaining workers.
Founders Keon Deetman (CEO) and Paul Deetman (managing director) announced on social media that after the studio didn’t safe funding in the course of the Recreation Developer’s Convention (GDC) in March, it had “exhausted all our doable choices for publishing, work for rent, and co-development.” In consequence, the rest of its workers has been let go. GameIndustry.biz confirmed that 13 workers have been affected, 11 of which have been full-time and a pair of freelance contractors.
The Deetmans have made a name for any studios with open positions to rent its affected workers. The founders plan to remain in enterprise and have vowed to rebuild, which incorporates launching a Kickstarter to crowdfund Ship Us House, a sequel to Ship Us Mars.
It was clear Keoken was in bother when the founders posted a video in March revealing it had been unable to land a publishing deal after spending two years pitching 5 video games to over 40 publishers. As a substitute, the founders determined to publicly reveal these initiatives to assist garner curiosity, certainly one of which was Ship Us House and two have been Ship Us The Moon spin-offs, together with a VR sport.
Keoken as soon as employed 45 workers, however the headcount was lowered to twenty by March 2024 earlier than 4 extra workers have been let go that month. In an interview with GameIndustry.biz, the Deetmans revealed they’d gone months with out gathering a wage to assist keep afloat.
