Metal: Hellsinger Studio Shuttered as Funcom Executes Sweeping Layoffs

The Outsiders, the team behind 2022’s acclaimed Metal: Hellsinger, has been closed by Funcom after a company-wide round of layoffs. The news landed hard for staff and fans alike, confirmed directly by studio founder David Goldfarb on Monday.

“I have not had much time to process the news, but all of us at The Outsiders and Funcom Stockholm have been affected by the layoffs at Funcom, and our 10-year-old studio will be closing“, Goldfarb wrote in an open statement. For the talented Stockholm-based team, the announcement ends a decade-long run—one marked by unlikely survival and a refusal to quit.

Ten Years of Grit, One Standout Game

Funcom scooped up The Outsiders just three years ago, but the studio’s history runs deeper than that. Years before Metal: Hellsinger was even an idea, The Outsiders weathered a near-fatal blow with the cancellation of Darkborn. Instead of calling it quits, the core team doubled down on creating something new. That pivot paid off in 2022 when they unleashed Metal: Hellsinger, a shooter that merged pulse-pounding gameplay with an all-star heavy metal soundtrack.

Goldfarb looked back at the journey with clear pride, writing, “Because of this team’s loyalty and refusal to quit, Metal Hellsinger was born. It will always be a high point for me personally, and I will be forever grateful we got to make it and for the wonderful team and partnerships that made it happen.”

Dreams Beyond Hellsinger, and an Uncertain Future

Their ambitions, though, didn’t stop at one game. The Outsiders had set their sights even higher after Metal: Hellsinger, hoping to follow up the sleeper hit with something “even better.” Now, those plans have been cut short. “Things don’t always go the way you hope,” Goldfarb admitted. He added a direct appeal to anyone with the ability or resources to help the team start anew: “If you think you can help in any way, with business leads, placement for employees, guidance, whatever it is, I would be genuinely grateful if you reach out here. Change is always tough, and right now we are all hurting.”

The sense of loss among the staff is palpable, but so is a determination to survive. “We are not giving up, and we are going to try to continue on in some new form.” Goldfarb made it clear that, while The Outsiders as a company may be shuttered, the people and the creative energy driving their projects are still looking for a way forward.

The closure highlights a tough season in the games industry, where even the most passionate teams and beloved projects aren’t immune to industry shifts. Funcom’s decision to shut the studio down is part of a broader cut affecting multiple teams, as the publisher reorganises for the future.

Metal: Hellsinger, A Lasting Impact

For players, what remains is Metal: Hellsinger itself, a game that made its mark thanks to its distinct blend of rhythm and shooting, and a soundtrack stacked with heavy hitters. As noted in VGC’s review, the title was praised as “an incredibly well-realised concept, packed to bursting with excellent music, unique weapons and a gameplay loop that’s instantly addictive.”

The reviewer went further, calling it “a game that we’ll keep installed for a long time, even beyond the point of completion, as the chase of higher and higher scores against your mates is so engaging.” For many fans, Metal: Hellsinger isn’t going anywhere, and the team behind it has more than earned its place in gaming’s heavy metal hall of fame.

While The Outsiders closes its doors, the story of its people and their hunger to create remains unfinished. For anyone looking to connect, support, or retain the team’s talents, Goldfarb’s invitation still stands.