Yield Guild Games (YGG) announces it is laying off 35 employees and shutting down its game-publishing arm, YGG Play. The company says the decision follows continued challenges in both the crypto and video game markets, which it describes as making the YGG Play business no longer commercially sustainable. Reports indicate YGG Play had been responsible for publishing blockchain-related games, including titles such as LOL Land. In place of its publishing operation, YGG says it is shifting focus toward artificial intelligence, framing the restructuring as part of a broader pivot. The company’s communications emphasize that the move is driven by unfavorable market conditions and operational considerations, rather than a change in its overall direction alone. The layoffs and closure affect staff tied to the publishing division, while the organization redirects resources toward its AI-related work. No sources provide specific timelines for the shutdown beyond the immediate announcement, and the company does not detail additional financial outcomes beyond citing the sustainability of the publishing segment.