Rovio reveals deep job cuts

Rovio creation Angry Birds

Angry Birds creator Rovio Entertainment is to cut its workforce by up to 260 people as profits at the Finnish company continue to fall.

The job losses are more severe than those seen in October last year, when Rovio laid off 110 staff in Finland shortly after appointing Pekka Rantala as CEO.

The new cuts come as Rovio, founded in 2003, plans to “restructure and concentrate its activities” around games, media and consumer products.

The reductions apply to the whole organisation, which has presences in LA, London and Tokyo, but excludes those working on the forthcoming Angry Birds feature film in the US and Canada.

Rantala admitted the company had overstretched itself in its aim to become an entertainment powerhouse to rival the likes of Disney and had done “too many things.”

Rovio recently hired Tuomo Korpinen from DreamWorks Animation to lead and expand its media business.

His arrival came after Nick Dorra, who spearheaded the firm’s move into animated series, left in April following four years with the company to join New York-based start-up Thirty Labs.

Rantala said: “While we have gathered good momentum this year, especially with the launch of the Angry Birds 2 game, downloaded nearly 50 million times in its first month of release, fundamental changes are needed to ensure Rovio succeeds in its global ambitions to be the leading entertainment company with mobile games at its heart.

“In our current financial condition we must now put focus on where we are at our best: in creating magnificent gaming experiences, in producing an amazing animation movie and in delighting our fans with great products.”