The closure of Embracer-owned studios continues — this time it’s developer Piranha Bytes that’s reportedly shut down.
German studio Piranha Bytes was based in 1997 and modified arms plenty of occasions earlier than it discovered its means to Embracer through writer THQ Nordic in 2019. Piranha Bytes is probably best-known for growing fantasy role-playing sequence Gothic and Risen, however in recent times it launched science fiction role-playing video games Elex and Elex 2.
Earlier this yr, Piranha Bytes acknowledged it was in a “troublesome scenario” amid devastating cuts and layoffs at embattled guardian firm Embracer. At the time, Piranha Bytes stated it was attempting to discover a accomplice for its subsequent undertaking, apparently not with Embracer.
In accordance to German web site GameStar, Piranha Bytes shut down at the finish of June. IGN has requested Embracer for remark.
In the meantime, two former Piranha Bytes builders, Björn Pankratz and Jennifer Pankratz, have fashioned a brand new indie referred to as Pithead Studio and kicked off a video sequence that guarantees to reveal what went down throughout the studio’s closing months.
With Pithead Studio we now have based a brand new indie studio.
In the future we are going to develop immersive and unbelievable indie video games.Curious? Then check out our newest video.https://t.co/qTTwtLqtnm
Please unfold the phrase!#pithead #pitheadstudio #indiedev pic.twitter.com/oCzXAKKwtJ
— Pithead Studio (@PitheadStudio) July 8, 2024
The closure is the newest in an extended line of Embracer shutdowns which have come over the final two years. In June, Embracer shut down Alone in the Darkish developer Items Interactive after the sport failed to meet expectations. Embracer has additionally shut down the studios behind Saints Row and Timesplitters, bought the likes of Borderlands developer Gearbox Software program and Star Wars Knights of the Previous Republic remake studio Saber Interactive, and cut up into three separate corporations in a bid to safe its future.
Wesley is the UK Information Editor for IGN. Discover him on Twitter at @wyp100. You possibly can attain Wesley at wesley_yinpoole@ign.com or confidentially at wyp100@proton.me.