Illuvium team cuts wages to extend operational runway into 2027

Illuvium’s team is taking another financial haircut to keep the lights on. Co-founder Kieran Warwick said Friday that staff have agreed to reduce their wages again, a move he says pushes the studio’s operational runway past August 2027. The math behind survival This isn’t the first time Illuvium has tightened the belt. In early 2025, the studio undertook a significant restructuring that slashed its core team from a peak of roughly 100 to 150 people down to 66 contributors. That same restructuring brought the monthly burn rate from approximately $900K down to about $500K. Salary caps were also introduced, with certain roles capped at $85K. Many team members opted to take compensation in ILV tokens instead of cash, a bet that only pays off if the project survives long enough to matter. The latest wage cuts layer on top of those earlier reductions. Warwick now puts the runway at more than 12 months, which on his numbers means the studio can operate into the second half of 2027 without needing a lifeline. For context, $132 million in historical funding is a substantial war chest by crypto gaming standards. The fact that the studio still needs to cut wages to stretch its runway tells yo...