Zynga to cut 18 per cent of workforce, close offices amid Farmville maker’s performance woes

SAN FRANCISCO – Online game maker Zynga says it is cutting 520 jobs, about 18 per cent of its workforce, and closing several offices.

The San Francisco company is shedding costs in the face of a decline in the number of users of its games, which include “Farmville” and “Words With Friends.”

Zynga Inc. says the cuts announced Monday will save it between $70 million and $80 million a year and are expected to be largely complete by August. It expects a wider loss in its second quarter than earlier anticipated as a result of the moves.

The cuts come on the heels of earlier efforts to reduce overhead as demand for its games on the social-networking site Facebook fades.

Zynga’s stock fell more than 10 per cent after Monday’s announcement.