Hyper Light Drifter developer Heart Machine has laid off the majority of staff

Chris Kerr,Senior Editor, News,GameDeveloper.com

September 17, 2026

schedule1 Min ReadImage via Heart Machine

Indie studio Heart Machine has laid off "nearly everyone" after a publisher pulled funding for an unannounced title.

Studio founder Alx Preston broke the news on LinkedIn and said he's not sure how Heart Machine will survive.

"I have very difficult news today. We had been working on an unannounced title, funded by a publisher. This week, they decided to no longer move forward with it. Without this key income for the studio, any other immediate prospects or other funds, nearly everyone at the studio had to be laid off. It's devastating." wrote Preston.

"Everyone will be provided with as much support as possible, including assisting with placement. If you know of any roles for extraordinarily talented, kind people, please reach out and we will coordinate."

Preston said navigating the video game industry has become "extremely difficult" and cast doubt on whether the studio can bounce back from its latest round of layoffs. "I’m not sure yet what’s next for Heart Machine to survive. However, we'll keep pushing to build a path while we are still here," he added.

Heart Machine has downsized significantly in recent years. The company laid off a portion of its workforce in November 2024 but suggested the launch of Hyper Light Breaker might 'rekindle' opportunities for those impacted.

The title, however, was cut loose by the studio before making it out of early access—prompting two more rounds of layoffs in October 2025.

It's unclear how many people are still employed at Heart Machine at the time of writing.

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About the Author

Chris Kerr

Senior Editor, News, GameDeveloper.com

Game Developer news editor Chris Kerr is an award-winning reporter with over a decade of experience in the game industry. His byline has appeared in notable print and digital publications including Edge, Stuff, Wireframe, International Business Times, and PocketGamer.biz. Throughout his career, Chris has covered major industry events including GDC, PAX Australia, Gamescom, Paris Games Week, and Develop Brighton.

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