Yield Guild Games said it will shut down YGG Play, its game publishing division, in a move that affects 35 positions. Co-founder Gabby Dizon told the community the decision was “a market decision, not a product decision,” pointing to macroeconomic pressure rather than weak product performance.
Platform and games will stay live until July 31
YGG Play, along with titles including LOL Land and Waifu Sweeper, will continue operating through July 31. After that, the games will go offline, and the full shutdown is expected by August 1. Before services end, in-game purchases will be disabled, while any remaining player points will be converted into tokens.
The unit generated more than $9 million before closure
The company said YGG Play was not a failed effort. It built the YGG Play Launchpad, partnered with major intellectual property holders, and released games that brought in more than $9 million in revenue. YGG added that the team shipped those products under heavy financial constraints, which made the outcome harder to accept. The closure has drawn attention across crypto gaming, where many projects are facing the same commercial strain.
Laid-off staff will receive pay and placement support
YGG said employees impacted by the shutdown will receive eight weeks of pay as well as job placement assistance. The company presented the package as part of its effort to manage the transition in a more orderly way while reducing the size of its operations.
YGG plans a smaller community model and is studying AI data sales
After exiting publishing, YGG plans to return to a smaller structure centered on its community roots. It is also exploring new revenue options, including the possible sale of player-generated training data to AI labs. According to the company, player activity and behavioral data collected through its games could hold value for firms building AI models.
In its statement, YGG said its core mission of “providing opportunities through technology” remains unchanged even as its business model shifts.