Tripwire Interactive, the studio behind the popular Killing Floor franchise and Maneater, has announced another round of layoffs, affecting 36 employees across the company.
The developer confirmed the workforce reduction on November 9, 2026, through an official statement on social media. The announcement marks Tripwire’s second round of layoffs this year, raising concerns about the studio’s future as it continues working on Maneater 2 and Killing Floor 3.
In Brief:
- Tripwire Interactive has laid off 36 employees across its studio.
- This is the company’s second round of layoffs in 2026, following 23 job cuts in March.
- Development of Maneater 2 and ongoing support for Killing Floor 3 will continue.
- The studio also plans to continue its publishing operations under the Tripwire Presents label.
Tripwire Interactive Confirms 36 Layoffs
In a statement shared on its official X account, Tripwire Interactive confirmed that 36 employees had been affected by the latest workforce reduction.
The company described the layoffs as a difficult but necessary decision for the organization.
“This was certainly not an easy decision, but unfortunately a necessary one for the organization.”
Tripwire also thanked the departing employees for their contributions, describing them as talented individuals who had made a meaningful impact on the studio.
The developer promised to support those affected throughout the transition with compassion and dignity.
However, Tripwire did not provide a specific explanation for the layoffs or reveal which departments were most affected. Inven Global
Tripwire Has Now Laid Off 59 Employees in 2026
This is the second time Tripwire Interactive has reduced its workforce in 2026.
The studio previously laid off 23 employees in March, meaning the latest round brings the total number of publicly announced job cuts this year to 59.
According to reports, a source familiar with the situation estimates that approximately 40 to 50 employees remain at the studio following the latest layoffs. Tripwire has not officially confirmed that figure.
The layoffs also come just days after Tripwire announced an expansion of its Tripwire Presents publishing division, which aims to provide additional support for smaller independent developers.
What Happens to Maneater 2 and Killing Floor 3?
Despite the workforce reduction, Tripwire Interactive has confirmed that development and support for its existing projects will continue.
In its statement, the studio explained:
“Our team is focused on our internal projects, including active development of Maneater 2, ongoing work on Killing Floor 3 and publishing efforts under the Tripwire Presents label.”
Maneater 2, the sequel to the 2020 shark action RPG, was officially announced in September 2026 and is currently targeting a 2027 release.
Meanwhile, Killing Floor 3 launched in July 2025 and continues to receive post-launch updates, although the game has struggled with mixed player reviews on Steam.
Tripwire has not announced any changes to its development schedule or confirmed whether the layoffs will affect future updates for either game.
