Nova Launcher, a popular Android homescreen replacement, has experienced significant layoffs, leaving nearly the entire development team out of work. The project is now left in the hands of its founder, Kevin Barry, who remains the sole full-time developer.

Barry has confirmed that he will continue leading the project, but the reduced team size means development will inevitably slow down. Barry has already indicated that the scope of the upcoming major version of Nova will need to be reduced from what was initially planned.

One of the laid-off developers, Rob Wainwright, shared on the project's Discord that while updates will continue, they will be less frequent due to the limited resources. The app, known for its highly customizable features, has been a mainstay in the Android Launcher community for years.

In July 2022, Nova Launcher was acquired by Branch, a mobile analytics company. Branch is currently undergoing extensive layoffs, with over 100 employees, including most of Nova's team, being let go. Despite these setbacks, Barry remains committed to ensuring that Nova Launcher continues to operate for its existing users. He also noted that for many years, Nova Launcher was developed by just one person—himself.

This shift marks a significant change in the future of Nova Launcher, as the once thriving team is reduced to just its original creator.