10 Chambers Restructures: Layoffs Hit Den of Wolves Developer, Co-Founders Depart

On February 13, 2026, the studio behind the acclaimed co-op shooter GTFO announced a "significant restructuring," resulting in layoffs for a "large number" of staff—including several of its own co-founders. This jarring contraction arrives as 10 Chambers is deep in development on its most ambitious project yet, the cyberpunk heist shooter Den of Wolves. The news first broke through the personal LinkedIn posts of affected employees, a now-familiar, human-first pattern in industry layoffs. This article explores the details of the restructuring, its profound impact on the studio's leadership and flagship project, and the broader corporate context for this pivotal moment.

The Announcement and Its Immediate Impact

The official confirmation from 10 Chambers was brief but carried significant weight. The studio described the move as a "significant restructuring," a term that has become an unfortunate euphemism across the tech and gaming landscapes. While the statement did not provide a specific figure, the phrasing "a large number of roles" affected underscores the scale of the cut, suggesting a deep reorganization rather than minor trimming.

The human element of this story emerged first. Before the studio's formal comment, news began circulating organically as affected team members updated their professional profiles. This grassroots dissemination adds a layer of raw, personal reality to corporate announcements, reminding the community that behind every "role" is an individual whose career has been abruptly altered.

The most striking detail within the official confirmation was the revelation that the layoffs included "several of the studio’s co-founders." For a tight-knit team famously built by veterans of the Payday series, the departure of founding members is not merely an organizational chart update; it represents a fundamental rupture in the studio's original DNA and a symbolic end to one chapter of its history.

A Changing of the Guard: Co-Founder Departures and Continuity

The restructuring has precipitated a tangible split within the founding team. Co-founder Hjalmar Vikström publicly confirmed his departure earlier in the same week, stating his intention to return to working on smaller indie games. His exit signals a notable shift in personal and professional direction, moving away from the large-scale, ambitious project Den of Wolves represents.

However, the studio was quick to emphasize continuity amidst the change. Co-founders Ulf Andersson and Simon Viklund remain with 10 Chambers. The studio stated that both are "fully committed" to leading the team and Den of Wolves forward. This split creates a new dynamic for leadership. The practical implications are clear: the vision and day-to-day direction of the studio and its major project will now rest with a fraction of the original creative council. Symbolically, it raises questions about the future culture of a studio that has marketed itself on a collaborative, veteran-driven identity. Can the "10 Chambers" ethos survive intact when several of its original architects have left the building?

All Eyes on "Den of Wolves": Ambition Meets Restructuring

All paths forward for 10 Chambers now lead directly to Den of Wolves. Announced at The Game Awards in 2023, the game is a futuristic cyberpunk co-op heist shooter described by the studio as more ambitious than their previous title, GTFO. It promises a complex, narrative-driven experience of planning and executing high-stakes robberies in a dystopian metropolis, a concept that immediately captured the community's imagination.

The studio directly tied the painful restructuring to this project's fate, stating it restructured to ensure Den of Wolves "can become the game it deserves to be." This rationale presents a critical tension for observers. Is this a prudent, if harsh, refocusing of resources to sharpen the game's vision and ensure quality? Or is it a red flag indicating significant developmental challenges or scope adjustments behind the scenes? The last major public update was a "pre-alpha" gameplay trailer in December 2025, and the game still lacks any public release date. This restructuring will inevitably frame all future communications about Den of Wolves, with fans now scrutinizing every update for signs of the project's health under its new, leaner structure.

Broader Context: From Payday Roots to Tencent Investment

To understand the potential pressures on 10 Chambers, one must consider its unique position within the industry. Founded in 2015 by former developers from Overkill Software's Payday series, the studio was born with co-op shooter expertise in its blood. Its debut, GTFO, was a critical success, cementing its reputation for deep, challenging, and atmospheric cooperative gameplay.

This reputation likely helped secure a major investment from Chinese technology and gaming giant Tencent in 2020. This influx of capital is widely understood to have funded the escalated ambition of Den of Wolves, allowing the small Swedish studio to dream on a AAA scale. This corporate backing now forms a crucial part of the restructuring's context. The unanswered question looming over this event is: what role did Tencent, or the broader market realities facing premium co-op games, play in this decision? Is this restructuring a strategic pivot driven by investor expectations for viability and returns, or an internally driven recalibration? The studio's statement did not elaborate, leaving the community to ponder the influence of corporate dynamics on this independent-minded team.

The layoffs at 10 Chambers represent a painful contraction aimed at securing a single, ambitious future. While the human cost for the "large number" of affected employees is undeniable and regrettable, the remaining core leadership has staked their claim on delivering Den of Wolves. The studio's identity, once rooted in its complete founding team and the cult success of GTFO, is now inextricably tied to the success and reception of its upcoming title. The future of 10 Chambers now rests entirely on whether this leaner team can deliver the groundbreaking Den of Wolves it has promised—and whether that game will justify this difficult restructuring.

Tags: 10 Chambers, Den of Wolves, Video Game Layoffs, Game Development, GTFO