Zynga to shut down studio behind Draw Something

Ailing game company Zynga has finalised its plans to shut down OMGPOP—a studio well known for infamous Pictionary clone Draw Something. According to TechCrunch, OMGPOP didn’t want to go down without a fight. The OMGPOP team attempted to work things out with Zynga and offered to buy back the site or continue operating it. However, Zynga seems to have refused and the studio is set to close down its shutters.

According to TechCrunch, multiple members of the OMGPOP team attempted to buy back the OMGPOP website, games and IP associated with it independently. Employees even reportedly offered to work at the studio for free. Zynga, citing too much legwork in the legal department, decided to not sell anything. The company instead opted to lay off all of OMGPOP’s employees.

Draw Something will be one of the few survivors of the move

The OMGPOP website is set to shut down on September 30, and many games, except for the ever-popular Draw Something and sequel, will be shut down on August 29. This includes Cupcake Corner, Gem Rush, Pool World Champ and Snoops.

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Zynga had acquired OMGPOP back in March last year in a $200 million deal. It is unknown whether the OMGPOP team attempted to buy back the company with the same price tag.

This has been another in a series of cost-cutting moves for Zynga. Since recently, the studio has been headed by new CEO Don Mattrick, well known for his work in Microsoft and during the promotion of the Xbox One.

Back in July, Zynga had announced a loss of $15.8 million. The company has also suffered a 45 percent drop in daily users.