Tron: Catalyst Devs Bithell Games Lays Off Majority of Staff

Tron: Catalyst Devs Bithell Games

British indie studio Bithell Games has let go of most of its full-time staff, just weeks after releasing its time-loop action title Tron: Catalyst.

The decision, confirmed by studio founder Mike Bithell, comes after the team failed to secure a new large-scale project to keep its development pipeline active.

According to the statement shared on social media, 11 employees have been made redundant. Bithell explained that the studio had been upfront with staff about funding struggles in recent months. "It became clear leading up to the release of our most recent game that we were not immune to the challenges faced by many game development teams seeking funding partners in 2024 and 2025," he wrote. Efforts were made to soften the blow through severance packages and career support for those affected.

Founded in 2013, Bithell Games is known for crafting narrative-driven titles with a strong sci-fi and tactical edge. The studio gained early acclaim for its minimalist platformer Thomas Was Alone, and has since built a reputation for clever storytelling, genre experimentation, and collaborations with major IPs like John Wick and Tron.

Notable Titles

Game Title	Genre / Style	Highlights
Thomas Was Alone	Puzzle-platformer	BAFTA-winning narration, emotional rectangles
Volume	Stealth action	Robin Hood-inspired, level creation tools
John Wick Hex	Tactical strategy	Official tie-in, timeline-based combat
Tron: Identity	Visual novel / puzzle	Disney collab, Grid lore expansion
Tron: Catalyst	Time-loop action	Latest release, sci-fi combat with narrative
Subsurface Circular	Text-based adventure	Dialogue-driven mystery with robots
The Banished Vault	Strategy survival	Released under Bithell’s Lunar Division label

The studio’s founder praised the departing staff as"an incredible team of exceptionally talented people" and encouraged other studios to consider hiring them. He also reassured fans that existing self-published titles would remain available and supported.