Outriders developer People Can Fly is making layoffs and suspending development on two projects and has laid some of the blame at the door of Japanese publisher Square Enix.
People Can Fly CEO Sebastian Wojciechowski shared the news on Linkedin and explained the company has paused development on upcoming title Project Gemini after a publisher—revealed to be Square Enix in a current report—failed to draft a content rider covering the terms and conditions of additional project milestones.
“The suspension of the Gemini project is a consequence of the fact that the publisher has not presented us with a draft of the subsequent content rider to the Publishing Agreement covering the terms and conditions of further milestones on Project Gemini and the lack of communication from the publisher as to its willingness to continue or terminate the Gemini project,” said Wojciechowski.
In a current report filed on June 1, 2025, People Can Fly confirmed the publisher in question is Square Enix and accused the company of causing “significant uncertainty” through inaction. That uncertainty, it added in a separate current report, has resulted in People Can Fly making 60 people redundant.
Work on Project Bifrost, which was due to be self-published by People Can Fly, has also been paused after the uncertainty surrounding Project Gemini forced the studio to reassess its cash flow.
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People Can Fly said that assessment showed a “showed a lack of prospects for securing organizational resources and funds necessary to continue the production and release of the Bifrost project.”
“We wish to express our deepest regret and sadness over how these events have unfolded and our sincere gratitude for everyone’s contribution up to this point,” said Wojciechowski.
The news continues a turbulent period for the Polish studio, which just last December laid off 120 workers and reshuffled its development slate to refocus on work-for-hire projects and prioritize the development of a single independent title.