Key Takeaways
Created with AI - we're still experimenting, so apologies if it misses the mark
- Job cuts continue at Side São Paulo, with recent reductions affecting both Brazilian and American employees.
- The company, known for game development services, has faced challenges in its expansion plans, particularly in the creation of jobs in areas like QA, art, and coding.
- This is not a new issue for Side São Paulo (formerly PTW), as previous rounds of job cuts have occurred since the commencement of Brazilian operations in 2023.
- The acquisition of Ghostpunch by Side Global has faced struggles, with no co-development projects being approved and subsequent staff reductions at Ghostpunch.
Job Cuts Continue at Side São Paulo Amid Expansion Challenges and Layoffs in Brazil & US
Chief Editor Pedro Zambarda reported in September 2025 that Side São Paulo, formerly PTW, had implemented job cuts. This report comes amid what is now the third significant round of reductions in approximately two years since the company’s Brazilian operations commenced. The initial wave occurred in late 2023, followed by a second towards the end of 2024. Side, a Japanese company providing game development services, officially opened its first Brazilian studio in São Paulo’s Butantã neighborhood in May 2025. The Gaming Era reported on May 27, 2025, that Side initially planned to create around 100 jobs in areas such as quality assurance (QA), art, and coding. However, these expansion plans have faced challenges. Sources indicate Side recently laid off 15 employees in the United States and six in Brazil, with further layoffs anticipated in Brazil. The company also worked with Nintendo.
Job Cuts Plague Side São Paulo and Ghostpunch Amid Expansion and Acquisition Struggles
Earlier, in April 2024, PlayersForLife reported that Pole to Win (PTW), Side’s predecessor in Brazil, had dismissed approximately 20 employees. This occurred after PTW had hired over 100 professionals across various fields for its Brazilian operations. Around the same time, PTW also cut 45 jobs in Bangalore, India, indicating a challenging period. During this time, PTW had partnered with major publishers such as Blizzard, Capcom, and Sega. In March 2025, Side Global acquired the American company Ghostpunch. While the acquisition was announced with intentions for co-development projects, no projects were subsequently approved, leading to staff reductions at Ghostpunch. Side São Paulo is invited to provide its perspective on these developments. Should the company reach out, its statement will be published here.
Have any thoughts?
Share your reaction or leave a quick response — we’d love to hear what you think!
-
0
-
0
-
0
-
0
-
0
-
0
