Indie Dutch game developer KeokeN Interactive has announced they’ve laid off their entire staff after recent discussions for funding and publishing fell through.
“Heartbroken, we’ve had to lay off our team at KeokeN because of nothing substantial materializing directly after our visit to GDC,” the developer said. “We’ve unfortunately exhausted all our possible options for publishing, work for hire, and co-development.”
For now the developer’s “utmost priority” is helping their now laid off staff to find work in other game developers. They’re also prepping a Kickstarter for their next title, Deliver Us Home, which they pitched a month ago to private investors.
Here’s the full word from KeokeN Interactive:
Heartbroken, we’ve had to lay off our team at KeokeN because of nothing substantial materializing directly after our visit to GDC. We’ve unfortunately exhausted all our possible options for publishing, work for hire, and co-development.
It is our utmost priority to make sure our lovely team finds a new home somewhere else, so if you have any positions available in Programming, Tech Art, Porting, Level Design, Audio, Animation, Production, Office Management, contact us, so that we can introduce you to the very best people who have been at the heart of KeokeN over the past 10 years.
Paul and I are heavily beat, but far from beaten. It’s our personal mission to rebuild KeokeN brick by brick like we’ve done before, in the name of our people and to continue the legacy of our games.
It has become abundantly clear that what is most important to us and our team is you, our community. You play our games, you make our games shine, you make us feel special as you believe in us. You have showed up consistently in both the good and the bad times, from our debut Kickstarter in the past to our recent video asking for help. Because of you, we’ve reached millions of people. We have always needed you and continue to do so.
Personally, we are preparing a Kickstarter soon for our much-anticipated Deliver Us Home. This is one small step for KeokeN, one giant leap for Delivering Us Home. A game we will build for you and with you. – Koen Deetman (CEO), Paul Deetman (Managing Director)
