Artifact Entertainment, developer of the MMORPG title Horizons: Empire of Istaria, cut a significant portion of its staff yesterday in order to cut costs and keep the company -- and the title -- running successfully.

The layoffs became necessary when bridge funding the company hoped to secure did not come through, explained Artifact president David Bowman. The staff cuts will enable Artifact to avoid ongoing losses financially, as well to continue to support Horizons, which is still alive and well.

Bowman was able to confirm that the layoffs affected "less than half" of the staff at Artifact, and that apart from the loss of the company's community manager, no vital positions have been left vacant.