Nova Launcher Development Team Layoffs Put App’s Future at Risk

A developer who worked on Nova Launcher has confirmed layoffs. The company that acquired Nova Launcher has laid off almost the entire team that has worked on the popular launcher since its inception.

Layoffs confirmed in Nova launcher department

The Android operating system ecosystem allows for third-party launchers, and Nova Launcher remains one of the most downloaded. However, most of the members of the development team responsible for Nova Launcher were fired rather abruptly.

It is important to note that the Nova Launcher team was not spared. The company that acquired the launcher laid off over 100 employees. It seems that the Nova Launcher team was the most affected.

Branch, the company that acquired Nova Launcher two years ago, has laid off many people working on the launcher
by Yu/MishaalRahman in Android

Analytics firm Branch Metrics acquired Nova Launcher in 2022. The company gave the app’s founder, Kevin Barry, and other key members of his team positions within its team. Additionally, Barry and his team were given complete autonomy.

However, Nova’s director of customer relations, Cliff Wade, posted an announcement on Reddit confirming the layoffs. Wade and several others were involved in the downsizing exercise.

Wade’s statement is surprising, mainly because Barry reportedly claimed that “Branch was different” when the company acquired Nova Launcher and retained its entire development team.

Is there a future for third-party launchers?

Nova Launcher is one of the most popular third-party launchers for Android devices. It works well on almost all Android devices. Users have installed the launcher on smart TVs, Android TV boxes, tablets, and smartphones.

Nova Launcher is currently at version 8. Wade indicated that the team will remain committed to releasing Nova Launcher 8.1. However, due to the layoffs, the future of the app may be uncertain.

Cliff was fired from the Nova Launcher team by Branch
byu/ciprofloxamycin in NovaLauncher

It is important to note that third-party launchers used to offer what Google’s default Android launcher lacked. However, Google and several device manufacturers have gradually added features and functionality to the native launcher.

The constant development of the default launcher has significantly reduced the need for Nova Launcher or other similar apps. Additionally, Google has consistently denied access to some basic Android features such as gesture navigation. This has significantly hampered the user experience when using third-party launchers.

With Branch Metrics laying off several members of the development team, the future of Nova Launcher seems uncertain. However, Barry has indicated that he is still employed, suggesting that Nova Launcher may survive.

Nova Launcher Dev Team Layoffs Put App’s Future in Jeopardy appeared first on Android Headlines.