David Georgeson has been the face of Everquest for many years and is much beloved by the community having helped maintain the franchise despite ongoing competition from more modern titles. Still, that didn't go far in helping him keep his job, as the owners of the developer, Daybreak (formerly Sony Online Entertainment) recently announced that he had been let go, along with a number of other staff that worked on the recently released Zombie survival title, H1Z1, which doesn't bode well for the Early Access game.
This is all part of a recent acquisition of SOE by a New York based management company which, while remaining positive when asked about the move, has behind the scenes been planning to cut a lot of jobs since the buyout.
When news of the firings hit the internet, the investment group released the following statement (via Kotaku):
"As part of a strategic decision to rationalize the business, Daybreak Game Company announced today that it will eliminate positions in both its San Diego and Austin studios. This alignment of resources better positions the newly independent studio for future growth opportunities and developments, including delivering on its legacy of making top online games and establishing a solid foundation for future multi-platform success. These reductions will not affect the operation of current games and the company will continue on its mission to partner with its player community to drive the future and push the boundaries of online gaming."
Then plan for the firings is to make the business more profitable, though you have to wonder what fans of H1Z1 will think, knowing that the game they just bought before it was completed now has far fewer people working on it.
Image source: Lady Astrum
