OtherSide Entertainment’s Latest Blow: Thick as Thieves Team Slashed by 18
In a shocking blow to VR enthusiasts, OtherSide Entertainment has laid off another 18 employees working on its co-op immersive sim Thick as Thieves. This latest round of layoffs brings the studio’s headcount down by a staggering 36 in just over a month, leaving many wondering what the future holds for this ambitious project.
As we reported earlier, OtherSide had already scaled back plans for Thick as Thieves, shifting focus from a larger competitive multiplayer experience to a smaller, $5 title focused on single-player and co-op play. Despite this pivot, it appears that the studio’s financial struggles continue to mount. The layoffs come hot on the heels of the cancellation of another project codenamed Argos, which was reportedly in development at OtherSide before being axed by Wizards of the Coast.
The Boston-based studio had received a substantial investment from Swedish game conglomerate Aonic in 2023, but it seems that this influx of cash has not been enough to keep the team intact. In a statement provided to Game Developer, an OtherSide spokesperson acknowledged the challenges of developing games in the immersive sim genre, which often require lengthy development cycles and significant resources.
“We’re deeply grateful to the team for their superb work,” they said, “but unfortunately, this has become an increasingly challenging space to occupy in recent years. Despite the encouraging response to the launch of Thick as Thieves’ introductory campaign, it’s clear that the continuation of the studio in its current shape is no longer a commercially viable path.”
The news will undoubtedly send shockwaves through the VR community, which had been eagerly anticipating Thick as Thieves. Immersive sim games like this one often push the boundaries of what’s possible in VR, and fans were hoping to experience something truly innovative.
While it’s unclear how many employees remain at OtherSide Entertainment, one thing is certain: the VR landscape has lost a team that was working on a project with tremendous potential. As we wait to see what’s next for Thick as Thieves, we can’t help but wonder what other studios are facing similar challenges behind closed doors.
The future of immersive sim games in VR remains uncertain, and the recent layoffs at OtherSide Entertainment serve as a sobering reminder that even the most ambitious projects can fall victim to financial struggles. As we move forward into this new era of VR development, one thing is clear: only time will tell which studios will rise to the challenge and deliver the next generation of immersive sim experiences that fans crave.
Source: Game Developer XR — 2026-07-01