French publisher Dear Villagers confirms layoffs

Chris Kerr,Senior Editor, News,GameDeveloper.com

September 21, 2026

schedule1 Min ReadImage via Plane Toast / Dear Villagers

Caravan SandWitch and The Forgotten City publisher Dear Villagers has laid off around 15 employees.

The French company said it has been forced to downsize after owner Plug In Digital chose to reorganize its operations.

A statement on the Dear Villagers website indicates the publisher employed 20 people before the layoffs were confirmed. The company told Game Developer that it intends to keep on publishing and producing games moving forward.

"Plug In Digital is currently undergoing a reorganization of its operations in an industry that has been particularly challenging for several years. In this context, a workforce reduction plan has indeed been initiated, affecting approximately fifteen positions (as the process is still ongoing, we do not have final figures to report)," said a company spokesperson.

"This decision is obviously a difficult one, as it affects employees and teams who have contributed significantly to the company’s growth. Sadly, it is also a necessary one in order to adapt our organization to the particularly rapid evolution of the video game market and the new economic realities of the sector."

Multiple posts on LinkedIn from impacted Dear Villagers employees confirm the vast majority of the team have been laid off, including almost everybody within the QA department.

Layoffs & Studio Closures

About the Author

Chris Kerr

Senior Editor, News, GameDeveloper.com

Game Developer news editor Chris Kerr is an award-winning reporter with over a decade of experience in the game industry. His byline has appeared in notable print and digital publications including Edge, Stuff, Wireframe, International Business Times, and PocketGamer.biz. Throughout his career, Chris has covered major industry events including GDC, PAX Australia, Gamescom, Paris Games Week, and Develop Brighton.

See more from Chris Kerrchevron_right