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Star Trek Online and Neverwinter MMO devs Cryptic are the next Embracer-owned studio to suffer layoffsUndisclosed number of staff lose their jobs as result of cost-cutting measures
Undisclosed number of staff lose their jobs as result of cost-cutting measures
Cryptic Studios, the makers ofMMOsincludingStar Trek Onlineand Dungeons & Dragons MMORPGNeverwinter, have confirmed a number of layoffs due to the ongoing “comprehensive restructuring” of megacorp owner Embracer Group. The “personnel changes” at Cryptic make them the latest Embracer-owned developer to suffer job losses in what continues to be an unrelenting year for thousands of those working in video games.
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Reports of layoffs at the veteran MMO outlet surfaced in October after devs including narrative director Winter Mullenix, senior game designer Jesse Heinig, senior technical artist Chris Penny and community manager Mike Fatum posted social media updates that indicated they were looking for work. Mullenix’sstatusadded that the layoffs were “due to a reduction in workforce”.
Cryptic have since confirmed toGamesIndustry.bizthat an undisclosed number of the studio’s 100-plus employees have been laid off, stating that “our commitment to Embracer’s directive to reduce costs requires us to undertake difficult personnel changes, including separating from some team members”
Among other Cryptic devs confirmed to be affected are VP of game development Andre Emerson, sound designer Nigel Athanasios Wilson, producer Miles Deponty, senior environment artist Patrick Poage, senior concept artist Kelly Perry, senior concept artist Ahmed Rawi and senior UI/UX designer Jules Norcross.
Alongside the layoffs, Cryptic will now operate underfree-to-playpublisher-developer DECA Games following the restructuring, putting their games alongside MMO shooterRealm of the Mad Godand mobile games including DragonVale, Crime City and Kingdom Age.
“Cryptic Studios will provide job assistance and support those impacted to smooth this transition,” a studio spokesperson said. “Cryptic remains dedicated to supporting its cornerstone free-to-play games and the communities behind them."
Embracerannounced over the summerthat they had cancelled upcoming games and would look to close studios and lay off staff across their more than 16,500-strong workforce as part of widespread restructuring. This, of course, came after a number of years spent buying up dozens of studios - resulting in over 130 studios under the Embracer banner as of June - and scooping licences from The Lord of the Rings’ Middle-earth and Borderlands to Tomb Raider, TimeSplitters andAlone in the Dark. (Cryptic itself was acquired in late 2021 as part of the Perfect World Entertainment buyout.)
