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Final week, the web started to take a position that Gothic and Elex II developer Piranha Bytes was being shut down after followers observed 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 cope with Saudi Arabia-backed Savvy Video games Group fell by means of in 2023.
Studio closures by the hands of Embracer embrace Saints Row developer Volition Video games and reformed TeamSplitters workforce 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 at present, studio CEO Michael Rüve responded, stating the studio’s scenario proper now’s 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 quite a lot 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 overwhelmed for. We’re satisfied that we are going to 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 power and do no matter it takes to discover a associate for this undertaking. As quickly as there [is] any information, we’ll share them with you. Thanks very a lot in your steady assist!”
This assertion traces up with RPG Website’s reporting that Piranha Bytes is in search of 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 cope with Embracer to present 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 potential for discovering a brand new writer or purchaser might be why he’s asking followers to not write the workforce off but.
Solely time will inform, however given the studio’s greater than 20 years of historical past in sport growth, and the human price of studio’s closures and layoffs, right here’s hoping the workforce finds a extra secure 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 trade and games-adjacent trade. And people job cuts come after a horrible 2023 the place greater than 10,000 builders and staff have been laid off over the 12 months.
Final week, Lords of the Fallen writer CI Video games laid off 10 p.c of its employees. On this month alone, we discovered Unity can be shedding 1,800 folks by the top of March, and that Twitch was shedding 500 staff. Discord additionally introduced it had laid off 170 staff. Sport Informer coated layoffs occurring 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 coated information about Lifeless by Daylight developer Behaviour Interactive reportedly shedding 45 folks final week, too.
In January of final 12 months, Microsoft laid off 10,000 staff amidst its ongoing $69 billion acquisition of Activision Blizzard, which it accomplished in October.
Hanging Distance Studios, the workforce behind 2022’s The Callisto Protocol, laid off greater than 30 staff in August of 2023. That very same month, Mass Impact and Dragon Age developer BioWare laid off 50 staff, 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 staff.
In October of final 12 months, The Final of Us developer Naughty Canine laid off no less than 25 staff, and Telltale Video games additionally underwent layoffs, though an precise variety of affected staff has not but been revealed. Desires developer Media Molecule laid off 20 staff in late October.
In November, Amazon Video games laid off 180 employees members, Ubisoft laid off greater than 100 staff, Bungie laid off roughly 100 builders, and 505 Video games’ guardian 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 growth historical past. A couple of weeks earlier than the winter holidays, Dungeons & Dragons and Magic: The Gathering proprietor Hasbro laid off 1,100 staff.
The video games trade will certainly really feel the results 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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