The layoffs were announced by former Nova Launcher team members on social media. Rob Wainwright and Cliff Wade, both veterans of the Nova team, shared the news on X and Discord, respectively. According to their messages, Branch Metrics laid off over a hundred employees across the company, including almost everyone on the Nova team except for its founder and original developer, Kevin Barry.
What does this mean for Nova Launcher?
It’s still too early to say for sure what the layoffs will mean for Nova Launcher’s future. Officially, former team members have expressed confidence that Kevin Barry will continue to develop the app. However, it’s hard not to be concerned about the impact of losing so much of the team.One immediate consequence is the loss of customer support and PR. With only Kevin Barry left, Nova Launcher is now effectively a one-man show. Additionally, development is likely to slow down significantly. Kevin has stated that he’s already working on Nova 8.1, but it will have a “cut scope compared to what was planned.”
A History of Nova Launcher
Nova Launcher has been a popular choice for Android users for many years. It offers a high degree of customization, allowing users to personalize their home screens and app drawers. The app has also been praised for its performance and stability.
Branch Metrics acquired Nova Launcher in 2022. At the time, there was some skepticism about the future of the app under new ownership. However, Branch Metrics assured users that they were committed to supporting Nova Launcher and its development.
Kevin Barry’s statement
In response to the layoffs, Kevin Barry released a statement on the Nova Launcher blog. He assured users that he is still committed to the app and that he will continue to control its direction and development. He also acknowledged the contributions of the former team members and thanked them for their hard work.
I’ve always been the lead and primary contributor to Nova Launcher and that hasn’t changed. I will continue to control the direction and development of Nova Launcher.
Kevin Barry, Nova Launcher creator
It remains to be seen how the layoffs will impact the app’s development in the long term. Hopefully, Kevin Barry will be able to continue working on the app and bring Nova 8.1 to users as previously promised.
