‘Max Mustard’ Studio Announces Major Layoffs and Office Closure, Commits to Ongoing XR Game Development

Toast Interactive, renowned for its impactful titles like Richie’s Plank Experience (2017) and Max Mustard (2024), has made the difficult decision to shut down its office, resulting in significant layoffs among its workforce.

Situated on the Gold Coast in Australia, the studio shared this update on X, highlighting that the “majority of our talented staff have suffered redundancies.”

This recent move follows a previous round of layoffs back in November 2024, which saw 10 employees let go. At that time, Toast Interactive expressed that although Max Mustard had garnered high praise on platforms like PSVR 2 and Meta Quest, it was not enough to sustain a large indie team financially.

As it stands, the exact number of people affected isn’t specified. However, the studio clarified that it isn’t closing its doors entirely. The remaining team members will carry on refining both Richie’s Plank Experience and Max Mustard, albeit with a more streamlined approach.

Toast Interactive was founded in 2016 by the husband-and-wife duo, Toni and Richard Eastes. The studio gained early acclaim with Richie’s Plank Experience, a game that captivated users by letting them synchronize a real-life plank with its digital version, offering the thrill of teetering above dizzying heights.

Originally created for the HTC Vive, Richie’s Plank Experience eventually extended support to platforms like the Rift, Quest, and the original PSVR. Additionally, they’re still working on bringing it to PSVR 2.

Fast forward to 2024, and the studio delighted VR fans with Max Mustard, a platformer reminiscent of Astro Bot Rescue Mission by Sony Japan Studio. It started on Quest 2 and later expanded to SteamVR and PSVR 2.

This development unfolds amid broader challenges faced by the XR gaming sector, which has seen considerable upheaval since early 2024. Significant closures include Meta’s Ready at Dawn, Sony’s London Studio, and indie outfit Archiact.

Additionally, other XR studios such as VRChat, Fast Travel Games, Soul Assembly, XR Games, and nDreams have also downsized, shedding staff in recent times.

Below is the full announcement from Toast Interactive:

“To everyone in the VR community: we are closing the Toast Interactive office. It’s a heartbreaking decision that we never wanted to make. The majority of our talented team have suffered redundancies, and we will assist where we can with their next journey.

We’re incredibly grateful and proud of everything the team has accomplished. So much talent and passion went into the creation of Max Mustard and every single accolade speaks volumes. We will continue to improve Richie’s Plank Experience and Max Mustard with a lean approach.

We want to thank and acknowledge everyone who has been part of our journey at Toast.”

Sincerely, Toni and Richard