Final week, the web started to invest that Gothic and Elex II developer Piranha Bytes was being shut down after followers seen the studio's web site was basically defunct. Many speculated Piranha Bytes was one other casualty in proprietor Embracer Group's purge of studios that started final 12 months after a deliberate $2 billion take care of Saudi Arabia-backed Savvy Video games Group fell by means of in 2023.
Studio closures by the hands of Embracer embody Saints Row developer Volition Video games and reformed TeamSplitters crew Free Radical Design. Sport Informer reached out to Piranha Bytes following final week’s hypothesis to see if it was, certainly, one other closure by the hands of Embracer, and right now, studio CEO Michael Rüve responded, stating the studio’s scenario proper now could be tough however that individuals shouldn’t write them off but.
Right here’s what Rüve’s assertion says, in full:
“Expensive followers, sure, it’s true. We, Piranha Bytes, are in a tough scenario. There are loads of information about us circulating proper now and that is our reply: Don’t write us off but! We [will] do all the pieces to proceed creating worlds in which you’ll lose your self. That is what our hearts have at all times crushed for. We’re satisfied that we’ll succeed. We’re inventive minds and there’s no lack of concepts! We stick collectively, it doesn’t matter what.
“Now, we’re specializing in this aim with all our energy and do no matter it takes to discover a accomplice for this venture. As quickly as there [is] any information, we’ll share them with you. Thanks very a lot to your steady assist!”
This assertion strains up with RPG Website’s reporting that Piranha Bytes is searching for a brand new writer or purchaser after Embracer determined to shut the studio in November of final 12 months. Nevertheless, THQ Nordic, a publishing arm inside Embracer, struck a take care of Embracer to offer Piranha Bytes administration extra time to discover a new writer or purchaser. That is doubtless the tough scenario Rüve’s assertion is referring to, and the opportunity of discovering a brand new writer or purchaser might be why he’s asking followers to not write the crew off but.
Solely time will inform, however given the studio’s greater than 20 years of historical past in recreation improvement, and the human value of studio’s closures and layoffs, right here’s hoping the crew finds a extra steady proprietor or writer.
2024 has already been marred by a heartbreaking string of layoffs, leading to greater than 3,000 jobs misplaced within the video games business and games-adjacent business. And people job cuts come after a horrible 2023 the place greater than 10,000 builders and workers have been laid off over the 12 months.
Final week, Lords of the Fallen writer CI Video games laid off 10 % of its employees. On this month alone, we realized Unity could be shedding 1,800 folks by the tip of March, and that Twitch was shedding 500 workers. Discord additionally introduced it had laid off 170 workers. Sport Informer lined layoffs taking place at PTW, a assist studio that’s labored with corporations like Blizzard and Capcom, and at SteamWorld Construct firm, Thunderful Group, which let go of roughly 100 folks, final week. Sport Informer lined information about Useless by Daylight developer Behaviour Interactive reportedly shedding 45 folks final week, too.
In January of final 12 months, Microsoft laid off 10,000 workers amidst its ongoing $69 billion acquisition of Activision Blizzard, which it accomplished in October.
Putting Distance Studios, the crew behind 2022’s The Callisto Protocol, laid off greater than 30 workers in August of 2023. That very same month, Mass Impact and Dragon Age developer BioWare laid off 50 workers, together with long-time studio veterans. The next month, in September, Immortals of Aveum developer Ascendant Studios laid off roughly 45% of its employees, and Fortnite developer Epic Video games laid off 830 workers.
In October of final 12 months, The Final of Us developer Naughty Canine laid off not less than 25 workers, and Telltale Video games additionally underwent layoffs, though an precise variety of affected workers has not but been revealed. Desires developer Media Molecule laid off 20 workers in late October.
In November, Amazon Video games laid off 180 employees members, Ubisoft laid off greater than 100 workers, Bungie laid off roughly 100 builders, and 505 Video games’ father or mother firm, Digital Bros, laid off 30% of its employees.
In December, Embracer Group closed its reformed TimeSplitters studio, Free Radical Design, and earlier within the 12 months, Embracer closed Saints Row developer Volition Video games, a studio with greater than 30 years of improvement historical past. A couple of weeks earlier than the winter holidays, Dungeons & Dragons and Magic: The Gathering proprietor Hasbro laid off 1,100 workers.
The video games business will certainly really feel the consequences of such horrific layoffs for years to return. The hearts of the Sport Informer employees are with everybody who’s been affected by layoffs or closures.
Supply: Sport Informer
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