Yield Guild Games Cuts 35 Staff, Shuts Publishing Arm to Pivot Toward AI

Yield Guild Games (YGG) has laid off 35 employees and is shutting down its game publishing division, YGG Play, as it pivots toward artificial intelligence. The company said the move reflects a strategic shift away from Web3 game publishing to focus on developing AI-related data infrastructure. The restructuring comes amid a prolonged slowdown in the blockchain gaming sector and marks a new direction for YGG’s long-term growth.

YGG Ends Game Publishing Business After Market Slowdown

According to the company’s announcement, YGG Play will cease operations after July 31, when its publishing platform and games, including LOL Land and Waifu Sweeper, will go offline. Yield Guild Games also said affected employees will receive an additional eight weeks of pay to help with the transition. Meanwhile, GIGACHADBAT will return to Delabs, while Ragnarok Breaker will continue under Planetarium as YGG winds down its publishing operations.

In a post on X, Yield Guild Games co-founder Gabby Dizon said the company is sunsetting its Web3 game publishing arm, YGG Play, resulting in 35 job cuts. He said affected employees will receive an additional eight weeks of pay to support their transition, while the company will help them secure new roles. Dizon added that YGG Play’s games, including LOL Land and Waifu Sweeper, along with the YGG Play platform, will remain available until July 31 before going offline. He also said GIGACHADBAT will return to Delabs, while Ragnarok Breaker will continue under Planetarium as YGG shifts its focus toward AI-driven data initiatives.

YGG executives said the decision follows a prolonged slowdown in the Web3 gaming market, where lower player activity and reduced investment have made game publishing increasingly challenging. While YGG Play generated approximately $9 million in lifetime revenue, the company determined that the business was no longer sustainable under current market conditions.

• 35 employees were laid off as part of the restructuring.
• YGG Play, the company’s game publishing division, will shut down.
• Approximately $20.6 million remains in YGG’s treasury, providing an estimated four-year operational runway.

Yield Guild Games Shifts Focus to AI-Powered Gaming Data

Moving forward, Yield Guild Games plans to develop datasets derived from player behavior that can be used to train artificial intelligence models. The company believes gameplay data offers valuable insights into human decision-making, strategic thinking, and interactive behavior, making it useful for next-generation AI applications.

The new strategy leverages YGG’s global gaming community, enabling players to contribute data through normal gameplay rather than traditional data collection methods. Company executives say this approach could create new revenue opportunities while expanding the organization’s role beyond Web3 gaming.

The move also reflects a broader industry trend, with crypto and gaming companies increasingly redirecting resources toward artificial intelligence as investment in blockchain gaming remains subdued. Several firms have announced restructurings in recent months, seeking more sustainable business models amid changing market conditions.

Despite exiting game publishing, Yield Guild Games said it remains committed to supporting its gaming community and ecosystem partnerships. The company expects its AI-focused initiatives to become a core growth area while continuing to engage players through its existing guild network.

YGG’s latest restructuring underscores how companies operating at the intersection of blockchain and gaming are adapting to evolving technology trends. As AI demand accelerates across industries, the company is betting that its extensive gaming network and behavioral data capabilities can open a new chapter beyond traditional Web3 game publishing.

YGG’s restructuring follows a broader trend across the crypto industry, where companies are streamlining operations and reallocating resources toward artificial intelligence and long-term profitability. Earlier this year, Coinbase reduced its workforce by 14% as part of an AI-driven restructuring, while Gemini cut 30% of its staff after reporting a $585 million loss, highlighting continued cost-cutting across the digital asset sector.