Piranha Bytes, the German development studio known for creating games like Gothic and Elex II, finds itself in a very difficult situation. After its website became inaccessible, many fans feared that the studio had been shut down by its owner, Embracer Groupthe Swedish giant that acquired it in 2019.
Embracer Group, in fact, has started a policy of downsizing its studies after a failed agreement with Savvy Games Group, a group financed by Saudi Arabia that was expected to bring huge revenues to the group. There have already been among the victims of the deal that went up in smoke Volition Games (those of Saints Row) e Free Radical Design.
Piranha Bytes: “Don’t give us up for dead”
Following the closure rumors, the Game Informer portal contacted Piranha Bytes for comment on the situation. The answer didn’t take long to arrive. that’s how Michael RüveCEO of the studio, he commented on the situation, admitting the difficulties but saying he was confident for the future. Below are his statements (via Game Informer):
“Dear fans, yes, it’s true. We, Piranha Bytes, are in a difficult situation. There’s a lot of news circulating about us right now and this is our response: Don’t give us up! We will do everything to continue creating worlds in which you can get lost. This is what our hearts have always beat for. We are convinced that we will be successful. We are creative minds and there is no shortage of ideas! Let’s stick together, no matter what. We are now focusing on this goal with all our strength and will do everything to find a partner for this project. As soon as there is news, we will share it with you. Thank you so much for your continued support!”.
The goal Rüve talks about is looking for a new partner (a publisher or a new buyer) who can revive the fortunes of the studio.
The situation is currently critical: Embracer Group has already decided to close Piranha Bytes in November 2023, but THQ Nordic (one of the Group’s divisions) would have given the studio more time, so it could find new publishers and survive.
We will obviously keep you updated on developments in this matter.
