SCUM Developer Triggers Layoffs Over 'Market Conditions'

The studio behind SCUM, Gamepires, has shared that they have laid off employees to reduce the size of the team, citing challenging market conditions. SCUM launched in 2018 and quickly solidified itself as one of the biggest names in the survival games genre, exceeding a million sales in its first month. It’s known for taking place in a punishing open world, where deep character customization and your actions define the prisoner you become. The game remained in Early Access until June 2025, after a slew of updates continued to evolve the title in unique ways.