Gaming Studio Fortis Games Shuts Down, Leaving Over 440 Staff Unemployed
The studio, which had been operating for five years, is ceasing all activities.
An Unexpected End in the Mobile Gaming Market
Another major studio has closed its doors in the gaming industry. Fortis Games, known for mobile projects such as Twilight Towers and Bloom & Breakfast, has officially ceased operations. CEO Steven Chiang confirmed that after five years, the company was unable to achieve its goals and is winding down its activities.
The closure has left more than 440 employees without jobs. According to Chiang, the leadership's primary priority is now assisting former staff in finding new employment. He expressed gratitude to the team for their hard work and dedication.
What Was the Real Reason for the Closure?
While the official statement focuses on the team's achievements, former employees are speaking openly about the details of the closure on social media. According to former producer Gustavo Coronet, the decision was made by the studio's parent company, Las Vegas Sands Corp. The casino operator withdrew all funding from the studio and cancelled all existing contracts.
Former communications director Scott Butterworth noted that the company's "community-focused" approach failed to deliver the necessary financial results. Although the development process and technical metrics appeared promising, the projects failed to achieve the scale of success required, leading the company to exhaust its resources.
Background and Context
Fortis Games was founded in 2022. Founder Steven Chiang previously worked with industry giants such as Electronic Arts and Zynga. Las Vegas Sands Corp. aimed to use this investment to enter the mobile gaming market beyond traditional gambling. However, the studio failed to meet expectations. Just one week before the closure, the company announced the shutdown of the Twilight Towers servers, a clear sign of the studio's crisis.
This event reflects a broader trend within the gaming industry. Recently, numerous studios have closed, including legendary names. Such decisions continue to raise questions regarding the management of studios by large corporations and their long-term stability.
For those following the development of mobile gaming, the story of Fortis Games serves as another example of how volatile the market is, where even high-quality technology cannot guarantee commercial success.