OMGPOP, creators of the Pictionary-style app Draw Something, reported job losses Monday, after owner Zynga laid off 18% of its workforce.
A tweet from OMGPOP's official Twitter account revealed that Monday was the "last day at Zynga" for many of its employees.
While this is the last day at @zynga for many @omgpop staff, we want to thank you for all love and awesomeness over the years!— omgpop (@omgpop) June 3, 2013
Several former OMGPOP staffers, including community manager Joseph Alminawi and business-operations manager Ali Nicolas, confirmed their dismissals on Twitter.
Thanks for the concern everyone. Yep, I've been laid off (along with most of the studio). I'll share more details soon after I do my exit...— Joseph Alminawi (@swiftor) June 3, 2013
I learned via Facebook I was laid off today and @omgpop office is closed. Thanks @zynga for again reminding me how not to operate a business— Ali Nicolas (@ali_nicolas) June 3, 2013
Zynga acquired OMGPOP last March for a reported $180 million, plus another $30 million in employee-retention payouts. In October, however, the embattled online gaming company announced that it would have to write off between $85 million to $95 million of the acquisition cost, acknowledging that it had overpaid for OMGPOP.
In the past year, Zynga has seen a mass employee exodus; among the departures was OMGPOP founder Dan Porter. Zynga has also been fighting accusations that it steals game ideas from other companies.
OMGPOP and Zynga did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
[via The Verge]