Nova Launcher's Development Team Laid Off

Google's Pixel Launcher is often seen as a standard Android launcher, but Nova Launcher, maintained by a dedicated team of developers, has been a favorite among enthusiasts for its rich features and customisations that stock launchers often lack. A one-time Prime upgrade unlocks even more functionalities, making Nova one of the top Android launchers and a go-to app for many users when setting up a new phone. However, the future of Nova Launcher is now uncertain, as several key developers and its public face, Cliff Wade, have been laid off by Branch.

While the Android ecosystem supports third-party launchers, Nova Launcher has consistently been one of the most popular downloads. Despite this, the development team responsible for Nova Launcher has faced unexpected layoffs.

These layoffs are part of a broader reduction by Branch Metrics, the company that acquired Nova Launcher in 2022. More than 100 employees were let go, with the Nova Launcher team seemingly among the hardest hit.

Branch Metrics acquired Nova Launcher with the intention of integrating its developers into their team, offering the app’s founder, Kevin Barry, and other key staff significant roles while allowing them full autonomy over the project.

However, Cliff Wade, Nova’s director of customer relations, recently announced the layoffs on Reddit, marking a stark contrast to earlier assurances that “Branch is different,” a sentiment reportedly shared by Barry when the acquisition took place and the development team was retained.