Team17, a British video game publisher, recently announced that it has laid off a number of employees and its CEO, Debbie Bestwick, has departed the company. This news comes as the company has been struggling financially in recent months.

Team17 was founded in 1990 and is best known for its popular video game franchises like Worms and The Escapists. The company has grown significantly over the years, with a portfolio of over 100 games and a staff of over 200 people.

However, the company has been facing financial difficulties in recent months. Team17 reported a loss of £3.7 million in the first half of 2020, compared to a profit of £1.7 million in the same period last year. This led to the company making the difficult decision to lay off some of its staff and to part ways with its CEO, Debbie Bestwick.

The company’s chairman, John Clark, said that the decision to lay off employees and part ways with Bestwick was “difficult but necessary” in order to ensure the long-term success of the company. He also said that the company is now focusing on “streamlining operations” and “reducing costs” in order to return to profitability.

The news of Team17’s financial struggles and layoffs has been met with sadness by the gaming community. Many have expressed their support for Bestwick, who was a popular figure in the gaming industry. She was also praised for her leadership during her time at Team17, which saw the company expand significantly and become one of the leading independent video game publishers.

It remains to be seen how Team17 will fare in the future, but it is clear that the company is facing some tough times. The layoffs and departure of Bestwick are a sign that the company is taking steps to ensure its long-term success. Hopefully, Team17 will be able to turn things around and continue to be a major player in the gaming industry.