Disney Layoffs Could Delay Marvel, Star Wars ‘Disney Infinity’ Expansion?
Could the Disney layoffs affect a possible Disney Infinity expansion release date for adding in the Marvel and Star Wars characters?
In a related reported by The Inquisitr, the Disney layoffs in its interactive gaming branch are essentially accounting tricks intended to make the bottom line appear a little better. After years of having unprofitable financial quarters, Disney CEO Robert Iger set the artificial deadline for profitability for September 28, 2013. So now they’re considering firing hundreds of people this week… but where will they come from?
There are around 3,000 employees working under Disney Interactive with divisions such as Disney Interactive Studios, Disney Online Studios, Disney Online, Disney Mobile and Playdom. While video game studios like Junction Point and LucasArts have already been given the axe the one bright spot in a bleak financial landscape is the team that produce Disney Infinity. Despite costing over $100 million to develop, that game alone has pushed Disney Interactive Studios into the black by selling over three million units since its launch.
Company officials have refused to comment about the Disney layoffs being planned so unfortunately we’re only left to speculate. Disney Infinity is responsible for creating the second profitable quarter in Disney Interactive’s five year history so you’d assume any employee attached to that project is safe from the axeman. If anything, the Disney layoffs are most likely to affect Playdom, the division responsible for the largely unsuccessful efforts at social media gaming.
At the same time, it’s not like video game development exists in a bubble. The Disney Infinity release date for the Star Wars and Marvel expansion could still be delayed since the entire division will be reorganized after Disney Interactive co-president John Pleasants was forced to resign. While an official release date has not been announced, sources claim “new versions” and presumably new theme playsets are in the works.
