(Image credit: Tripwire Interactive)

Killing Floor studio Tripwire Interactive has laid off 36 employees in what it says "was certainly not an easy decision, but unfortunately a necessary one for the organization."

The cuts at Tripwire are quite substantial: A source at the studio told PC Gamer that roughly 40-50 employees are left following the layoffs.

"Our team is focused on our internal projects, including active development of Maneater 2, ongoing work on Killing Floor 3, and publishing efforts under the Tripwire Presents label," the studio wrote in a message shared on LinkedIn . "We are continuing to give the best support possible to all of our games and remain committed to our awesome community."

Maneater 2 was announced in September, five years after the release of the original, which was a significant success for Tripwire.…