Yield Guild Games Shuts Down Crypto Game Publishing Arm, Cuts 35 Jobs on AI Pivot

Yield Guild Games announced Monday it is shutting down YGG Play, its crypto gaming publishing arm, and will lay off 35 employees as part of a strategic pivot toward artificial intelligence. The company cited the crypto market downturn and broader gaming industry challenges as reasons for the closure. YGG Play's website, launchpad, and games including LOL Land and Waifu Sweeper will be retired by August 1, though two titles will continue under their original developers.

YGG reported $9 million in lifetime revenue through the first quarter of 2026 from the publishing unit. The firm will redirect resources toward supplying behavioral datasets from video game players for AI training. With a treasury of $20.6 million, Yield Guild said the restructuring extends its operating runway to four years. Co-founder Gabby Dizon stated the decision was "a market decision, not a product decision," and the company will provide eight additional weeks of pay to affected employees.