Nova Launcher's future is on the line, but here's what the founder says

Kevin Barry, the original creator and primary developer of Nova Launcher, has addressed concerns about the app’s future following recent layoffs at Branch Metrics, the company that acquired Nova in 2022.

In an official announcement titled “State of Nova Launcher,” Barry confirmed that Branch has parted ways with several employees, including some involved with Nova. However, he emphasized that he remains in control of Nova Launcher’s direction and development.

“I’ve always been the lead and primary contributor to Nova Launcher and that hasn’t changed,” Barry stated. “I will continue to control the direction and development of Nova Launcher.”

The layoffs affected key members of the Nova team, including Cliff Wade, who handled customer support, and Rob Wainwright, a contracted developer. According to a report by Android Police, the Nova team was reduced to just Barry himself.

Despite the setback, Barry expressed gratitude for his former colleagues, saying, “I personally really learned a lot from so many of my coworkers and treasure my time with them.”

The news has raised questions about Nova Launcher’s future development and support. As a long-time user who relied on Nova Launcher for every Android phone until Google began complicating matters for third-party launchers, I understand the concern within the Android customization community.

Nova Launcher has been a staple in the Android customization scene since its release in 2011, offering users extensive options to personalize their home screens beyond what most OEM launchers provide.

While Barry’s commitment to continuing Nova’s development is reassuring, the reduced team size may impact the pace of updates and customer support. It’s a bummer to see the team behind one of the most popular launchers get reduced to practically just 1 member.