adminFuncom layoffs are part of a restructuring that will refocus the Norwegian developer on live operations for Conan Exiles and Dune: Awakening. The company has not disclosed how many employees will be affected. The changes come as Dune: Awakening moves from full production into ongoing development and support.
Image credit: Funcom
Funcom layoffs and the shift to live operations
Funcom says the restructuring is intended to align its organization with the needs of its two continuing priorities. The company plans to support and expand both games and their communities over the coming years. As part of that shift, it will reduce the size of its workforce and say goodbye to some employees.
The company has begun the process but has not shared further details while affected employees are being informed. For now, the number of roles involved and the specific teams affected remain unknown.
What to watch: Until Funcom provides an update, the scale and timing of the staff reductions cannot be confirmed. The company says it will share more information after the process concludes.
Why Funcom is restructuring
Dune: Awakening was the largest project Funcom has undertaken and required substantial development resources across its studios over several years. CEO Rui Casais said that moving into long-term post-launch development calls for a different organizational structure than the one needed during peak production. He also said the company aims to treat affected colleagues with respect and provide support through the transition.
The restructuring follows the game’s launch. In October 2025, Funcom had also laid off staff after describing Dune: Awakening as the biggest launch in the company’s 32-year history. That earlier round included the closure of Swedish studio The Outsiders, which created Metal: Hellsinger and had been acquired by Funcom in 2021.
Practical context: A move from production to ongoing operations can change the mix of roles a studio needs. Funcom has not outlined how its teams or responsibilities will be organized after this restructuring.
Leadership changes at Funcom
Casais will leave the company at the end of the year, once the restructuring’s “difficult phase” is complete. He has spent 22 years at Funcom, beginning as a junior programmer, and served as CEO for 11 years. His tenure included Funcom’s 2020 acquisition by Tencent.
Scott Junior is set to become CEO. He has worked at Funcom for 25 years and most recently served as executive producer on Dune: Awakening. Junior said his priorities will include continuing to develop both games, adding content and gameplay, and maintaining close connections with their communities.
Funcom’s focus on Conan Exiles and Dune: Awakening
Conan Exiles launched in 2018. Funcom has described it as one of its most profitable and most-played games, and said it recovered the game’s development budget within five days of launch. The game recently received an Enhanced edition, which the company plans to continue building on.
Funcom also acquired the Conan intellectual property in 2021 through its purchase of holding company Cabinet Group. That portfolio included rights to Solomon Kane and Mutant Year Zero, among other properties, and is managed through Funcom subsidiary Heroic Signatures.
Tencent has previously characterized live-service games as an important part of Funcom’s approach. The company’s current plan reflects that emphasis: its stated priorities are the continued support and growth of Conan Exiles and Dune: Awakening.
What happens next
The restructuring is underway, but Funcom has not provided a final headcount or a detailed timeline for completing it. Casais is expected to depart at year-end, with Junior taking over as CEO. Players can look to official game updates for details about future content; the company says both titles will remain central to its plans.
In summary, Funcom layoffs accompany a strategic shift toward operating and expanding Conan Exiles and Dune: Awakening. The company has confirmed workforce reductions but has not yet disclosed how many employees will be affected.
