Keoken Interactive Reduces Staff Due to Funding Shortfall After GDC

Following a challenging experience at GDC 2024, Deliver Us Mars developer Keoken Interactive has made the difficult decision to downsize its team due to an inability to secure necessary funding or future projects. In a statement released by managing director Paul Deetman and CEO Koen Deetman, the company expressed its disappointment that no substantial opportunities materialized after attending the event, leading to the exploration of all possible avenues for publishing, work for hire, and co-development without success. As a result, the majority of the staff has been let go, with the Deetman brothers remaining to continue operating the studio. The co-founders have expressed their sadness and are now seeking assistance in finding new roles for the affected team members. Despite the current challenges, the brothers remain committed to rebuilding the company, driven by their passion for game development and the legacy of their previous titles. A Kickstarter campaign is currently in preparation for Deliver Us Home, the next installment in the series that started with Deliver Us The Moon in 2018. Prior to the layoffs, Keoken Interactive had already reduced its staff from 45 to 20 by March 2024, with a further four members leaving the same month. The studio's struggles reflect the difficulties faced by the gaming industry, with Koen Deetman sharing his concerns and the studio's situation in a recent interview, highlighting the personal sacrifices made by the co-founders, including forgoing their salaries for several months. In an update, Koen Deetman confirmed that the layoffs have affected 13 individuals, including 11 full-time employees and two freelance contractors, leaving only himself and Paul Deetman at the studio.