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Nova Launcher Faces Uncertain Future After Major Layoffs

Nova Launcher, a well-known custom launcher for Android devices, has undergone a dramatic reduction in its workforce, now reportedly consisting of a single team member. Despite the app’s continued availability, the downsizing has left the team unable to provide customer support or maintain activities beyond essential development.

In recent reports, while work on Nova 8.1 is said to be ongoing, the app’s future remains unclear following the layoffs. For many Android users, particularly those who have relied on custom launchers since the platform’s inception, Nova Launcher has been a staple. The popularity of custom launchers has waned somewhat in recent years, attributed to Google’s removal of native gesture support, along with certain features that previously allowed these third-party applications to work more effectively with the Android ecosystem. Nevertheless, Nova Launcher retains a committed user base, especially among those who find the default launchers of brands like Oppo and Vivo to be overly similar to Apple’s iOS.

The company’s significant shift began when Branch Metrics acquired Nova Launcher in 2022. Many in the Android community were apprehensive about how this acquisition would affect the launcher. Recent communications from former Nova team members, including Rob Wainwright and Cliff Wade, confirmed the news of the layoffs via their official channels on X (formerly Twitter) and Discord, respectively.

The layoffs reportedly resulted in a reduction of the Nova team from twelve members to just its original creator, Kevin Barry. The impact of such a drastic change raises important questions about the app’s sustainability moving forward. While the remaining team members express optimism about Kevin’s ability to carry on the project, it is feasible that Branch Metrics may lack a clear vision for Nova’s evolution post-layoffs.

Currently, there is no customer support or public relations team in place for Nova Launcher, which now operates as a one-man entity. Kevin Barry has expressed his disappointment over the loss of much of his team but remains dedicated to developing the launcher. He mentioned that while he has completed some progress on Nova 8.1, the forthcoming release will have a reduced scope compared to previous plans. Additional complications arising from the changes within the team leave many uncertainties about the future direction of Nova Launcher.

With such a limited workforce, it is inevitable that the pace of development will slow significantly. Observers surmise that following the release of Nova 8.1, support may be confined to minor bug fixes and essential patches, limiting the potential for innovative features or enhancements that users have come to expect from Nova in the past.

In light of these developments, inquiries have been made to Branch Metrics regarding the layoffs and the future of Nova Launcher. Updates will be provided as new information emerges.

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