Star Wars Eclipse Faces Cancellation Threat: Quantic Dream Developers Strike as Studio Plans Layoffs

In recent months, several troubling reports have emerged about Quantic Dream, the studio behind hits like Heavy Rain and Detroit: Become Human. The company has been going through a rough patch following the cancellation of Spellcasters Chronicles, a project that had received significant investment from its publisher, NetEase. This setback could prove to be a critical factor not only in the development of the long-awaited Star Wars Eclipse, announced in 2021, but also for the future of the studio as a whole.

The French outlet Gamekult has published a new report detailing the situation at Quantic Dream—and it’s far from promising. According to the report, a significant number of developers have already gone on strike, and following the failure and subsequent cancellation of Spellcasters Chronicles, management is considering laying off over 100 employees. If this happens, it will heavily impact the development of Star Wars Eclipse, which, according to sources, “is dying a slow death due to a lack of resources, vision, and progress.” All of this could lead to catastrophic consequences—potentially the cancellation of the project and even the closure of the studio. A brief description of the situation, taken from Gamekult, you can check out below:

“At Quantic Dream, the situation is dire, and so a strike is underway: following the failure of the multiplayer game Spellcasters Chronicles, management is reportedly considering laying off the entire team—115 people—while its long-delayed Star Wars Eclipse is dying a slow death due to a lack of resources, vision, and progress. To fight these layoffs, the STJV union has called for a nationwide mobilization and set up a picket line this morning outside Quantic Dream’s Paris headquarters. And for good reason: today is the day the Lucasfilm delegation is scheduled to review the progress of Star Wars Eclipse. Tense atmosphere. This French blockbuster could very well fall apart and drag the entire company into the abyss, according to the protesting employees. We visited the picket line to gather their testimonies.”

There have been previous rumors suggesting that the development of Star Wars Eclipse is progressing with great difficulty. Last month, Insider Gaming also reported that NetEase is considering selling Quantic Dream. We can only hope that this doesn’t lead to the closure of the once-iconic French studio or the cancellation of another highly anticipated Star Wars game.

Are you disappointed about the situation around Quantic Dream and Star Wars Eclipse? Share your thoughts in the comments below!