Bold claim: even seasoned game studios are feeling the squeeze as funding gaps widen and independent voices seek new routes to survive. Three Fields Entertainment, a UK studio born from Burnout veterans, has warned its entire team that layoffs could be imminent, and is turning to Patreon to keep the doors open.
On Tuesday, co-founder and CEO Fiona Sperry announced via LinkedIn that, after hearing from fans who wanted to support the team directly, the studio behind several racing titles is launching a Patreon page. She described the move as an “interesting journey” and acknowledged it isn’t a common path for established game studios, expressing a willingness to learn as they go.
The Patreon pivot signals a troubling trend for the wider game industry: even experienced developers with solid repertoires are finding traditional funding harder to secure. With publishers and media companies pulling back, some studios are exploring direct-to-fan funding as a more viable option than conventional financing.
This Patreon announcement follows earlier news that the entire team faced potential shutdown. On December 3, Sperry shared that all employees at the indie outfit behind Danger Zone and the open-world racer Wreckreation had been given redundancy notices, a legal requirement in the UK before layoffs. She called the decision “unbelievably painful” but described the financial reality as stark.
Sperry explained that, as an independent studio, revenue from Wreckreation sales is not expected in the near term. The team largely self-funded development and post-launch content this year, and without continued backing from their publisher THQ Nordic, sustaining the studio in its current form became untenable. The message emphasized the emotional toll of the decision alongside the harsh truth of the studio’s finances.
In accompanying footage, Sperry highlighted upcoming features and potential updates the team had been pursuing for Wreckreation, hoping public visibility might attract a publisher or investor who recognizes the project’s potential. She stated that, even if new funding doesn’t materialize, the post stands as a testament to the studio’s vision, talent, and perseverance.
Sperry confirmed that Three Fields will still release a Wreckreation update funded “again at our own cost,” aimed for before Christmas. This update will introduce crossplay support for the open-world Burnout-inspired game, a feature fans have requested since its October launch.
Her message closed with gratitude: to everyone who has supported, played, or believed in the studio, thank you.
Update 12/16/2025 10:50 a.m. ET: Added new information about the Patreon page.
