Six to Start, the company behind the popular immersive fitness apps Zombies, Run! and Marvel Move, has laid off nearly its entire staff, citing financial difficulties. The news was delivered to staffers in a Zoom call last week, where they were told that parent company OliveX could no longer afford to keep Six to Start afloat and would shut down the company if they can't find a buyer.

The layoffs affect all but two of the company's staff, with those let go receiving redundancy notices. The move comes as a surprise to many, given the popularity of Zombies, Run!, which has around 10 million users worldwide. The app, first founded in 2012, combines immersive storytelling with fitness, encouraging users to walk or run to escape zombies or Marvel villains.

The production of such immersive storytelling games, including Marvel Move, is costly, involving the hiring of voice actors, writers, and artists. One source familiar with the matter suggests that it's unlikely the app will completely shut down, as there are still plenty of loyal users and subscribers. Instead, OliveX may be trying to reduce costs by slashing or pausing new content, relying on the hundreds of episodes already in the archive.

OliveX acquired Six to Start in 2021, but sources claim that there were clashes between Six to Start staffers and both OliveX and its owner, Animoca Brands. The anti-capitalist themes present in the games were reportedly at odds with the parent companies' aims to create crypto and NFT projects. One source described working under OliveX as "agony."

It remains unclear what will happen to ZRX: Zombies, Run! subscribers in the short term. While there is an extensive library of content, part of the draw was regular releases of new episodes. The Verge reached out to OliveX and Six to Start for comment, but did not immediately receive responses.

The news raises questions about the future of immersive fitness apps and the impact of financial struggles on the gaming industry. As the industry continues to evolve, it's clear that even popular and well-loved apps are not immune to financial difficulties. The fate of Zombies, Run! and Marvel Move remains uncertain, leaving fans and users wondering what's next for these beloved apps.

For now, the future of Six to Start hangs in the balance, as OliveX actively searches for buyers. With the loyalty of Zombies, Run! users and subscribers, it's possible that the app may find a new home, but only time will tell.