**King of Meat: Glowmade’s Challenges and Impending Job Cuts**

Developer Glowmade is preparing for major shifts in the upcoming year, as reports reveal that the studio intends to lay off “approximately a dozen individuals” at the start of next year. This choice follows the release of their multiplayer party game, *King of Meat*, which debuted on Steam just two months ago but has struggled to achieve essential player engagement metrics. Originally targeting a concurrent player base of 100,000, the game reached a peak of only 320 players on PC, failing to sustain even 1,000 players across all platforms.

Numerous developers from Glowmade have recently turned to LinkedIn to declare their pursuit of new job prospects. Glowmade, a studio located in the U.K., launched *King of Meat* in October with support from Amazon Game Studios. Conversations regarding potential layoffs started in early December, despite prior assurances from management that the studio had “the runway to keep going.”

Amazon Game Studios first revealed in 2021 its collaboration with Glowmade to enhance its publishing initiatives, focusing on an investment in what was characterized as “exciting new IP.” At that time, Glowmade had a team consisting of 25 staff members, reflecting their aim to develop innovative gaming experiences.

Even with a substantial marketing push surrounding *King of Meat*, which included a notable appearance with the animated version of Geoff Keighley at Gamescom 2024 and a prominent video from content creator MrBeast, the game has not gained lasting traction. The promotional activities, which featured a large-scale event with many content creators and a considerable cash prize, ultimately did not convert into ongoing player interest, as evidenced by the game’s recent 24-hour peak on Steam being just 23 players.

In conclusion, Glowmade’s *King of Meat*, despite lofty ambitions and ample marketing resources, has not connected with players as anticipated. The forthcoming layoffs herald a tough time for the studio as it reevaluates its strategies and course after the game’s underwhelming launch. With the gaming community observing closely, it remains uncertain how Glowmade will steer through this challenging environment and what the future entails for its development initiatives.