Heart Machine, the studio behind Hyper Light Drifter and Solar Ash, has laid off nearly its entire team after a publisher pulled funding from an unannounced project.

Studio founder Alx Preston announced the layoffs, explaining that the cancelled funding represented a major source of income for Heart Machine and left the company facing an uncertain future.

Heart Machine’s Future Is Unclear

In a LinkedIn post, Preston described the layoffs as unavoidable and said his immediate priority is supporting the people affected.

He also acknowledged that he does not currently know what comes next for the studio.

“Navigating an increasingly challenging industry has been extremely difficult, and I’m not sure yet what’s next for Heart Machine to survive. However, we’ll keep pushing to build a path while we are still here.”

Preston also thanked the developers who contributed to Heart Machine’s games and the community that supported the studio.

The publisher behind the cancelled project was not named, and details about the unannounced game have not been revealed.

Another Difficult Chapter for Heart Machine

Heart Machine is best known for Hyper Light Drifter, Solar Ash and Hyper Light Breaker, but this isn’t the first time the studio has been forced to reduce its workforce.

Previous layoffs were reported in 2024, while the latest cuts are significantly more severe, with Preston saying they affect nearly everyone at the studio.

Despite the scale of the layoffs, Heart Machine has not officially announced its closure. Preston’s comments indicate that the remaining team will continue searching for a path forward, although the studio’s long-term future remains uncertain.