Twitch undergoes layoffs
Streaming site confirms "team adjustments in some departments," plans to increase headcount by 30% this year
Game streaming site Twitch has confirmed a round of layoffs that took place late last week, but insists the company is still healthy and growing.
"Coming off the record-setting numbers shared in our 2017 Retrospective, Twitch is continuing to grow and advance with success stories from Overwatch League to Fortnite's milestone-setting streams," a Twitch spokesperson said. "In order to maintain this momentum, we have an aggressive growth strategy for 2018 with plans to increase our headcount by approximately 30%. While we've conducted team adjustments in some departments, our focus is on prioritizing areas most important for the community."
News of the layoffs surfaced on the social media accounts of those affected. Further details of the cuts were reported by esports consultant Rod "Slasher" Breslau, who tweeted that more than 25 people were laid off from Twitch Studios and the community and marketing team.
"People were told that Twitch had 'overhired', and this was to re-adjust," Breslau said.
In a post confirming his own departure, Twitch director of content marketing put the company's current headcount at 1,200.