Sweet Baby Inc's Unknown 9 Flops Hard, Reflector Fires Staff!

Reflector Entertainment’s Mass Layoffs: A Fallout from Unknown 9: Awakening’s Massive Failure
Reflector Entertainment has begun significant layoffs following the catastrophic failure of its game Unknown 9: Awakening to capture player interest or achieve commercial success.

A Wave of Job Losses
As first reported by Smash JT, employees at Reflector Entertainment have taken to LinkedIn to announce their sudden layoffs and search for new roles. Among those affected:

Leigh Desormeau, a Dev QA Tester, shared a post asking for job leads and noted their preference for remote work opportunities.
Sean D., formerly a Lighting Artist, expressed optimism while seeking new roles in his field.
Kyrie Holton, also from QA, indicated they’re looking to pivot into Unreal Engine development.
Manou Deneuvel, the company’s Brand Manager, is seeking positions in marketing or community management.
Casey Hallis, a Game Designer with nearly three years at Reflector, is on the lookout for fresh opportunities.
The layoffs reportedly amount to 18% of Reflector’s total workforce, according to a blog post by the company’s General Manager, Marc-André Séguin.

Management’s Take
Séguin framed the layoffs as unrelated to commercial pressures, stating, “This decision isn’t driven by external pressures or lack of success but reflects the current reality of our production pipeline.” He noted the shift will allow Reflector to “refine processes” and “perfect upcoming projects.”

However, these statements conflict with the dismal performance of Unknown 9: Awakening. Released on October 18, the game peaked at just 285 concurrent players and has plummeted to a mere 39 concurrent players in the past 24 hours.

Controversial Connections
The game’s failure was compounded by backlash over Reflector’s partnership with Sweet Baby Inc., a company linked to divisive figures like co-founder David Bedard and CEO Kim Belair. Gamers called for boycotts, citing concerns about the company’s creative direction and involvement in politically charged narratives.

What’s Next for Reflector?
Despite the layoffs and poor reception of Unknown 9: Awakening, Reflector’s leadership insists on its commitment to “meaningful and memorable experiences.” However, the company’s missteps in marketing, storytelling, and player engagement suggest a challenging road ahead.