The Matrix Online developer Monolith has announced it is abandoning the MMOG business altogether, and 80 of its 200 staff members will be laid off after MXO comes under the ownership of Sony Online Entertainment.Samantha Ryan, Monolith CEO explained that it would no longer need positions dedicated to online games like customer support, and that the company will continue to work on their upcoming shooter F.E.A.R. as well as "Condemned: Criminal Origins" for the Xbox 360.
Of the 80 employees laid off, 25 have been offered jobs over at SOE, John Smedley, president of SOE also said in an interview.
Smedley also gave some details about how The Matrix Online will be folded into SOE's online game business: the company plan to expose the game to an 800,000 strong audience by offering it as part of Station Access, where subscribers pay $21.99 per month to play multiple games including Star Wars Galaxies and EverQuest.
Seattle Times: 80 laid off at Kirkland video-game maker after Sony deal
Q&A with SOE's John Smedley and outgoing Matrix Online leader Jason Hall
Related:
The Sony Acquisition FAQ
MXO Team: The Matrix Online Finds a New Home!
The Matrix Online
Monolith
SOE: Station Access
Sony Confirm Matrix Online Acquisition (17 June)
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