Crytek, facing challenging market conditions, announces layoffs impacting approximately 15% of its workforce, totaling 60 employees. This decision, while painful, is deemed necessary to ensure the company's long-term financial stability.
In a statement from founder Avni Yerli, the company cited the need for restructuring following the postponement of Crysis 4 development in Q3 2024. Despite the continued growth of Hunt: Showdown 1896, cost-cutting measures proved insufficient to offset financial pressures. The layoffs affect various development and support teams. Affected employees will receive severance packages and career support.
Yerli emphasized Crytek's commitment to Hunt: Showdown 1896, highlighting its strength as a gaming service and promising continued development and content updates. The company also reiterated its dedication to the CRYENGINE.
The announcement follows the previously unannounced cancellation of a battle royale-inspired Crysis project, codenamed Crysis Next. This project, revealed through leaked gameplay footage, featured third-person mechanics within a basic training arena, incorporating the series' signature nanosuit abilities and sound design. Crysis Next was ultimately scrapped in favor of Crysis 4, unveiled in January 2022.
The Crysis franchise, a renowned first-person shooter series celebrated for its high-fidelity graphics, nanosuit powers, and open-world gameplay, has a legacy extending back to 2007. The original Crysis became a PC benchmark, giving rise to the popular phrase, "But can it run Crysis?" The most recent mainline entry, Crysis 3, launched in February 2013. While remasters of earlier titles have been released, significant updates on Crysis 4 have been scarce since its initial announcement and teaser three years prior.
