In an update to the ongoing controversy surrounding Humble Games' recent restructuring announcement, the company has denied using artificial intelligence (AI) to draft the statement. The clarification comes after former Humble Bundle creative lead, Chris Radley, claimed that the layoffs actually signified a complete shutdown of Humble Games, with a third-party consultancy firm taking over remaining projects.

In response to follow-up questions from Eurogamer, a Humble Games spokesperson declined to confirm the details provided by Radley. The spokesperson simply stated that Humble Games operations will carry on as stated in the original statement. However, the spokesperson did not address whether new game titles may still be signed in the future.

New information has emerged indicating that a third-party video games consultancy firm will be responsible for completing Humble Games' current projects. Radley, asserting that the company was indeed shutting down, criticized the characterization of the layoffs as a "restructuring." He even suggested that the statement issued by Ziff Davis, Humble Games' parent company, may have been written by AI. Michael Douse, director of publishing at Baldur's Gate 3 studio Larian, echoed this sentiment on social media.

Additionally, a recording of the call where Humble Games staff were informed of the layoffs has been obtained by Aftermath. In the recording, Ziff Davis' technology and shopping division president, Steve Horowitz, confirmed that the remaining projects would be handed over to The Powell Group, a consultancy firm. Horowitz emphasized that all roles within Humble Games would be impacted.

Eurogamer has reached out to Ziff Davis for further comments on the matter.

Original reports surfaced on July 23, 2024, revealing that Humble Games, the publishing division of digital storefront Humble Bundle, had made the decision to restructure its operations. While multiple acclaimed titles have been published under the Humble Games brand, reports from Humble Games employees on social media confirmed layoffs and suggested a complete shutdown of the company.

The subsequent statement from Humble Games maintained that this was a restructuring and not a shutdown. The statement assured that upcoming game releases, including Monaco 2 and Wizard of Legend 2, would not be affected. However, when questioned about the number of affected employees, a Humble Games spokesperson refrained from providing specific figures.

This latest news adds to the string of job losses within the gaming industry this year. Over 10,000 individuals have already been affected, surpassing the total number of layoffs in the entirety of 2023, which stood at 10,500.

Humble Bundle, along with its publishing division Humble Games, was acquired by Ziff Davis in 2017 and has operated under IGN Entertainment. Eurogamer and its sister sites, such as Rock Paper Shotgun and GamesIndustry.biz, also became part of IGN Entertainment in May 2024.

The announcement from Humble Games has sparked controversy and further speculation in an already difficult year for the gaming industry. The company's denial of AI involvement in the statement adds a new twist to the ongoing narrative surrounding the future of Humble Games and the fate of its employees.