Activision cuts 30 jobs

Activision Publishing has confirmed to Kotaku today that it has laid off 30 employees (one half of one percent of its total workforce) in a business realignment related to the company releasing fewer licensed games in 2013.

"Like any successful business, Activision Publishing consistently works to align its costs with its revenues; this is an ongoing process. In 2013, we expect to release fewer games based on license properties and as a result are realigning our structure to better reflect the market opportunities and our slate," the company said in a statement.

"Approximately, 30 full-time employees have been impacted globally, which represents approximately one half of one percent of Activision Blizzard's employee population," the statement continued. "We are offering those employees who are impacted outplacement counseling services."

Licensed Activision games due for release in 2013 include The Walking Dead: Survival Instinct, Deadpool, and the first of three Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles games. Activision's James Bond licensing deal is reportedly set to expire.

Of the 30 cuts, some came from Call of Duty: Black Ops II developer Treyarch Studios. Activision said these layoffs are not out of the ordinary and will not affected the release of future downloadable content.

"Now that we have launched Black Ops II, we are taking a minimal reduction in staff to better align our development talent against the needs of DLC development," the company said. "The release of the DLC will not be impacted by this move."