Sekai Project Issues Statement Regarding Layoffs

While I personally haven’t dealt much with Sekai Project, I have been a long distance fan of their work. It wasn’t until just recently that I got to meet with them at E3, and found them to be a friendly bunch of folks. Which is why it’s so disheartening to see that Sekai was forced by circumstance to have several layoffs, primarily in their Marketing department. Their intent is to become more speedy and focused, and they assure fans that all their other departments will be unaffected by the layoffs. Furthermore, Sekai Project insists this will not affect the production of their games, whether they are crowdfunded or entirely built in house.

You can read the entire statement from CEO Christopher Ling below. Be sure to stay tuned to oprainfall in the coming months for more coverage of niche games, including those developed and published by Sekai Project.

SOURCE

Official Statement Regarding Recent Layoffs
In General by Sekai ProjectAugust 13, 2018

Today, as many of you may have heard, we have had to make a very difficult decision in laying off many of our employees, co-workers, and friends from Sekai Project. The decision was difficult and we are sure it will impact many of them in the days to come and we wish them the best in their future endeavors.

Regarding the Status and Future of Sekai Project

Most of the staff that was let go over the course of the year was in marketing, whereas translation, programming, editing and QC are still diligently working on current and future projects. In the coming days, the company will be going through a restructure so we can be more nimble, focused, proactive and more like the company we were when we first started.

Regarding the Status of Current Projects

Many of you are likely concerned about the status of our projects, including our crowdfunding campaigns but we want to reassure you that they will continue although there may be more delays coming as we try to streamline our processes.

We just submitted all the necessary paperwork for the EU release of Root Double: Before Crime * After Days and once we get approval from SIE, it can then be scheduled for release.
Project LUX has just been submitted for FQA to Sony. Once that’s been cleared we can begin the process of getting it ready for release on Playstation VR
Console port for fault – milestone one is in progress with a technology demo showcased here
Fatal Twelve fulfillment is still scheduled to proceed at the end of the month. Please remember to update your shipping addresses if you are expecting physical rewards.
Designs for A Light in the Dark goods have been finalized and will be printed at the end of the month.
Translation check and re-editing of Hoshizora Memoria is in progress
Canvas Garden, Love’s Sweet Garnish, is almost done with QA and will be ready for release this month, pending Valve approval.
E.N.Nach’s, CyberRebeat -The Fifth Domain of Warfare-, is almost done with QA and will be ready for release this month.
Regarding Gate Vol. 2, this addressed previously here
My Girlfriend is a Mermaid!? translation is still in progress. Developer updates will be posted to the Kickstarter campaign as they come
TOKYO CHRONOS development is still in progress. Translation will begin once the campaign concludes
Engine porting for A Clockwork Ley-Line is in progress but more difficult than expected due to an older version of the engine being ported to a newer one.
Rewrite is currently 35% translated and still in progress.