Funcom Names Scott Junior CEO as Rui Casais Steps Down and Layoffs Begin

Funcom is changing leadership as it moves out of peak development on Dune: Awakening and into long-term live support. The company announced on October 14 that Chief Product Officer Scott Junior will become CEO, replacing Rui Casais, who has led the Norway-based studio and publisher for 11 years.

The change comes with layoffs. Funcom said it is entering a restructuring period and will reduce the size of the company, though it didn’t say how many employees will be affected. The process starts now, and the company said it won’t share more details until it’s finished.

Junior has been at Funcom for 25 years and has overseen post-launch development and live operations on Conan Exiles, The Secret World, and Age of Conan. He was also executive producer on Dune: Awakening. His new role will center on continued support and expansion for Dune: Awakening and Conan Exiles, including Conan Exiles Enhanced.

Dune: Awakening launched on PC in June 2025, then came to PlayStation and Xbox in September. With that console rollout done, Funcom says its focus is shifting from full production to ongoing updates, operations, and growth for its two survival games.

Casais will leave Funcom at the end of the year after 22 years with the company. He joined as a junior AI programmer on Age of Conan in 2004, became CTO in 2008, and took over as CEO in 2015. During his run, Funcom launched Conan Exiles, was acquired by Tencent, built Dune: Awakening, expanded through acquisitions, and grew its publishing business.

Casais will work with Junior through the end of the year to handle the leadership handoff and restructuring.

Further reading: Official Funcom press release