Metroid Dread Developers MercurySteam Layoff Unknown Number of Employees in “Workforce Adjustment Process.”

As first reported by Nintendo Life, Metroid Dread developer MercurySteam took to it’s LinkedIn account today to announce mass layoffs, dressed up as a “workforce adjustment process”. The Spain-based developer first captured Metroid fans attention with the release of 2017’s critically Metroid: Samus Returns, before releasing the most successful Metroid game to date in terms of sales, Metroid Dread, in 2021.

Layoffs are unfortunately becoming more and more commonplace in the gaming industry today, although it it less common with Nintendo-associated partners. The exact number of staff laid off is unknown at this time. This is not the first time that MercurySteam has laid off employees; back in September, Shinesparkers reported that CSVI-CGT, a Spanish game developers’ trade union, had accused MercurySteam of terrible working conditions, forced overtime, and layoffs of 24 employees. This was after MercurySteam’s 2025 action-adventure game Blades of Fire released to middling sales and reviews. We dedicated an episode of the Omega Metroid Podcast talking about the situation at the time.

The full press release from MercurySteam is here:

There is no easy way to share this kind of news, but today we must communicate that MercurySteam has initiated a workforce adjustment process.

While this is something common within the production cycles of our industry, it is nonetheless a difficult and painful situation.

We want to express our deepest respect, gratitude, and support for the people affected, whose talent, effort, and commitment have been an important part of the studio’s history.

If your studio or company is looking for experienced developers, please feel free to contact us at personasycultura@mercurysteam.com. We will do everything we can to help these professionals find new opportunities.

Over the coming weeks, we will focus all our efforts on handling this process with the utmost responsibility, humanity, and respect for everyone involved.

Omega Metroid wishes everyone affected by this awful news all the best in their future endeavours. Reporting this type of news is never fun, and we hope that everyone lands on their feet as quickly as possible.

Source: MercurySteam

Andy Spiteri

Andy Spiteri is the Webmaster of Omega Metroid and Host of the Omega Metroid Podcast, The Zelda Cast, and Virtual Theater. Probably drinking a Tim Horton’s Double Double as you read this.