Codemasters Confirms U.S. Layoffs, Denies Office Closure Rumors

UK-based Dirt and Overlord publisher Codemasters on Wednesday denied a recent report that claimed the company's Burbank, CA branch would soon be closing following a round of layoffs. A Codemasters rep said layoffs did occur, but it will keep its Burbank location operational. "As many organizations have in the past year, Codemasters has reassessed the scale of its North American office and is returning to a core sales and publishing operation that will receive significant support from our distribution partners," read a statement offered to MCV. While the original report said 10 people in the office's marketing department were let go, the rep said only six workers were laid off in total, three of whom were in marketing. "Codemasters' office in Burbank, CA remains operational under the management of Bill West and we look forward to a focused relationship with our distribution and marketing partners going forward," the rep added. Codemasters' financial position has been under scrutiny lately, as the publisher recently canned the InXile-developed Heist. A Times Online report that surfaced in January claimed the privately-held Codemasters would soon be "rescued" by a new investor. News of the cash injection and layoffs comes months after the release of Codemasters' UK chart-topping cricket game, Ashes Cricket.