"It was a routine reduction," a representative told Gamasutra. "We recently completed a project down there, and as part of a down-ramp of the product lifecycle, we did let some people go, but things are still full steam ahead at Austin."

The resignations and firings are likely part of the recently announced restructuring led by newly-elected chairwoman Shari Redstone, whose goal is to guide the company to its first annual profit since 1999.

Late last November, creative director Harvey Smith was let go from the Austin studio after he classified the development of BlackSite: Area 51 as "so fucked up." Smith's comments were made shortly after the release of the PC and Xbox 360 versions, but before the PlayStation 3 edition hit stores.