Legoland laying off most performers

Legoland has announced it is laying off nearly 100 employees at its Carlsbad park, part of a broader companywide restructuring of how it delivers shows and other entertainment offerings.

The vast majority of the layoffs documented in a required filing with the California Employment Development Department are identified as performers — 87 out of a total 97 job cuts. Others listed include stage managers, an events assistant manager and production specialist.

Legoland California characterized the staff reduction as a way to “elevate the guest experience” and better compete in the theme park sector.

“The decision to reduce the size of our entertainment team was undoubtedly difficult, but these changes will allow the Resort to operate more flexibly and responsively in a competitive market,” the park said in an emailed statement.

“We will continue to have a core in-house entertainment offering, which we will scale up to meet our brand and guest experiences during the year. This will include working with a global leader in this sector — who will be providing employment opportunities — to bolster our entertainment provision during seasonal special events.”

Apple scraps augmented reality glasses

Apple has canceled a project to build advanced augmented reality glasses that would pair with its devices, marking the latest setback in its effort to create a headset that appeals to typical consumers.

The company shuttered the program this week, according to people with knowledge of the move. The now-canceled product would have looked like normal glasses but include built-in displays and require a connection to a Mac, said the people, who asked not to be identified because the work wasn’t public. An Apple representative declined to comment.

The project had been seen as a potential way forward after the weak introduction of the Apple Vision Pro, a $3,499 model that was too cumbersome and pricey to catch on with consumers. The hope was to produce something that everyday users could embrace, but finding the right technology — at the right cost — has proven to be a challenge.

Apple risks losing ground to Meta Platforms Inc., which already sells a popular set of Ray-Ban smart glasses. Meta is working to create a version that adds augmented reality — the superimposing of images and data on real-world views — and expects to have a product ready by 2027. That’s when Apple had previously intended to sell its device-connected glasses,.

Meta ponders exiting incorporation

Meta Platforms is discussing reincorporating its business outside of Delaware, where the company has been legally incorporated since its founding in 2004, according to Bloomberg sources.

Meta executives are considering multiple states for a possible reincorporation, said the source, who spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss non-public information. One of the states being considered is Texas, according to The Wall Street Journal, which first reported the news. Meta has two data centers in Texas and recently announced that it was moving some of its content moderation work to the state.

Meta has no plans to move its corporate headquarters out of California, a company spokesperson said, declining to comment further.

Compiled from reports from Lori Weisberg at the San Diego Union-Tribune and Bloomberg.