Hands-On Mobile is embarking on a restructuring that will include a significant round of layoffs on Friday, mocoNews has learned. The details are still being worked out, but according to a source with knowledge of the situation, the layoff could affect up to 20 of its 50 to 100 employees. The company declined to comment on the layoffs.
The restructuring follows the departure of CEO David White, who left quietly last week and was replaced by President Niccolo De Masi. The San Francisco-based company has clearly lost its momentum. Once the fourth largest U.S. mobile game publisher, Hands-On aspired to go public after raising more than $100 million in capital. However, over the past year, the company has conducted layoffs, shed its operations in both Europe and Asia and lost the hit title Guitar Hero to Glu Mobile (NSDQ: GLUU). Some reports indicated the company will focus less on licensing IP from large content companies and instead will lean heavily on independent game-makers. In a statement, the company was clear in saying otherwise: “We are publishing more titles across more platforms than ever before and will be in the future, with the next 12 months seeing House M.D., The Saboteur, Fieldrunners, COPS, Star Trek, Deadliest Catch, and a new title from the award winning and best selling Guitar Hero Mobile franchise coming to carrier decks, OEMs, and app stores worldwide.”

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