In a surprising turn of events, an independent game studio from Seattle, Very Very Spaceship (VVS), recently announced layoffs of several employees, including those who worked on the new Avatars system for Pokémon GO. This news was first brought to light by some of the affected employees themselves, such as 3D Character Artist Kelsey Martin and recruiter Sara Carmen H, who shared their thoughts on LinkedIn following their termination.

VVS has been a long-standing game development partner of Niantic, the company behind Pokémon GO, and has worked on various aspects of the popular mobile game. However, the exact reasons for the layoffs remain unclear, particularly given the recent focus on improving the Avatar system in response to player feedback.

Interestingly, VVS has previously been involved in the development of Transformers Heavy Metal, another AR game that never saw the light of day. Despite claims from the company that they are working on significant features for Pokémon GO, the specifics of their current projects remain undisclosed.

With the layoffs affecting employees directly involved in the creation of the new Avatar system, there are questions about the decision-making process behind these layoffs. If Niantic is committed to addressing the issues with the Avatars, why would the team responsible for their development be let go?

As the affected employees navigate this unexpected change in their career paths, the gaming community is left to wonder about the implications for the future of Pokémon GO and the role of external partners like VVS. Our thoughts are with the laid-off employees as they seek new opportunities in the game development industry.

Overall, the layoffs at VVS have raised eyebrows and sparked speculation about the dynamics between game studios and their partners in the ever-evolving world of mobile gaming. Only time will tell how this situation unfolds and what it means for the direction of Pokémon GO and its future updates.