Heart Machine founder Alx Preston has confirmed that the indie studio behind Hyper Light Drifter is facing a potential shutdown after a publisher withdrew funding for an unannounced project, forcing mass layoffs.
In a public LinkedIn post, Preston said the publisher "decided to no longer move forward" with the funded title.
He described the development as devastating, explaining that the sudden loss of the project's financial backing left the studio without the income needed to continue operations and resulted in nearly everyone on staff being laid off.
Preston added that the studio will provide affected employees with support, including assistance finding new positions.
Preston’s statement made clear that Heart Machine's immediate prospects are uncertain.
He said navigating today's industry has been increasingly difficult and that the studio is working to find a way forward while it still can.
The full LinkedIn communication emphasized gratitude to the team and the community, and appealed for help locating roles for displaced developers.
Heart Machine has a high-profile history in the indie scene.
The studio launched Hyper Light Drifter in 2016, a pixel-art action-RPG that earned critical acclaim and a dedicated fanbase.
A specially updated Hyper Light Drifter: Special Edition arrived on Nintendo Switch in 2018 and is available via the Nintendo eShop.
Heart Machine later developed Solar Ash, a visually distinctive action-adventure published by Annapurna Interactive in 2021.
The studio has also collaborated with other publishers in recent years; press and studio posts have noted partnerships with Annapurna Interactive for Solar Ash and work with other publishers on additional projects.
The recent funding withdrawal that precipitated the layoffs concerns an unannounced title that Preston identified only as publisher-funded and no longer proceeding.
This development underscores ongoing financial volatility for mid-size indie studios that rely on publisher funding to underwrite multi-year development cycles.
For now, Heart Machine is focusing on supporting laid-off staff and exploring options to keep the studio's work alive.
Fans and industry contacts who can offer positions or assistance have been asked to reach out through the studio’s posted channels.
We will update this report with any further verified statements from Heart Machine, the publisher involved, or other primary sources as they become available.
In a public LinkedIn post, Preston said the publisher "decided to no longer move forward" with the funded title.
He described the development as devastating, explaining that the sudden loss of the project's financial backing left the studio without the income needed to continue operations and resulted in nearly everyone on staff being laid off.
Preston added that the studio will provide affected employees with support, including assistance finding new positions.
Preston’s statement made clear that Heart Machine's immediate prospects are uncertain.
He said navigating today's industry has been increasingly difficult and that the studio is working to find a way forward while it still can.
The full LinkedIn communication emphasized gratitude to the team and the community, and appealed for help locating roles for displaced developers.
Heart Machine has a high-profile history in the indie scene.
The studio launched Hyper Light Drifter in 2016, a pixel-art action-RPG that earned critical acclaim and a dedicated fanbase.
A specially updated Hyper Light Drifter: Special Edition arrived on Nintendo Switch in 2018 and is available via the Nintendo eShop.
Heart Machine later developed Solar Ash, a visually distinctive action-adventure published by Annapurna Interactive in 2021.
The studio has also collaborated with other publishers in recent years; press and studio posts have noted partnerships with Annapurna Interactive for Solar Ash and work with other publishers on additional projects.
The recent funding withdrawal that precipitated the layoffs concerns an unannounced title that Preston identified only as publisher-funded and no longer proceeding.
This development underscores ongoing financial volatility for mid-size indie studios that rely on publisher funding to underwrite multi-year development cycles.
For now, Heart Machine is focusing on supporting laid-off staff and exploring options to keep the studio's work alive.
Fans and industry contacts who can offer positions or assistance have been asked to reach out through the studio’s posted channels.
We will update this report with any further verified statements from Heart Machine, the publisher involved, or other primary sources as they become available.
