The developer of Unknown 9: Awakening, Reflector, has cut just under a fifth of its workforce. 

The Canadian studio posted on its website confirming the news, saying that it had laid off 18 per cent of its staff. This followed reporting from Kotaku's Ethan Gach that Reflector was cutting staff. 

The developer said that these layoffs weren't the result of commercial or external pressures but rather simply a change to how it was making games. 

"The changes resulting from this transition are necessary for us to efficiently deliver on our most pressing objectives while guaranteeing that every member of our team can meaningfully contribute to our ongoing projects," reads the post.

"With the recent release of Unknown 9: Awakening and our two key production lines entering the early stages of development, we must make sure that our staff is laser-focused on contributing to the projects that wholly benefit from their skillsets. As such, we are reducing our team by approximately 18 percent of Reflector’s total workforce, a decision that impacts people who aren’t assigned to roles that our active projects require."

The company continued: "This shift will allow us to take the necessary time to refine our processes and perfect our upcoming projects so that we can deliver experiences that are both meaningful and memorable for players.

"While change is never easy, it allows for meaningful reflection. We've learned a lot from our journey so far, including the challenges that come with growth. As we move forward, we are committed to applying these lessons to build a stronger, more focused future."