Tomb Raider IP owner Embracer Group announce plans to cut back 15 upcoming games

Embracer Group, the parent company of several major gaming brands, has announced huge cutbacks to staff as well as upcoming projects.

Some of the gaming IPs Embracer owns via its acquisitions include Tomb Raider, Saints Row, Borderlands and Goat Simulator to name a few, as well as the rights to Lord Of The Rings games which it plans to take full advantage of in the years to come. That being said, the mark for a good Lord Of The Rings game is very low after the release of Gollum, one of the worst-rated games of the year.

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Unfortunately, after plans for another company deal fell through, Embracer Group has confirmed it’s dismissed about 5% of its workforce, which equates to around 900 developers. This was apparently a necessary move in order to stabilise the business.

Crystal Dynamics, one of the companies owned by Embracer and developer of the Tomb Raider games, has been forced to dismiss 10% of its workforce, a terrible sign for the rumoured next game in the Tomb Raider series.

Worst of all, the Saints Row developer Volition has been shut down completely, after a disappointing reboot of the series in 2022 failed to impress fans. The layoffs have also supposedly led to the termination of the TimeSplitters remake. In total, 15 games have been 'cut back'. This means that while not totally cancelled, developers and budgets have been moved away for all 15 affected titles.

The CEO of Embracer Group, Lars Wingefors, gave a statement on the company’s plans to cut back. They said: "It's never easy to part ways with talented individuals. I would like to put on record a special thanks to the people who have left Embracer in the quarter. These are difficult decisions and we do not take them lightly. For me, personally, it is crucial that the program is carried out with compassion, respect, and integrity."

A terrible set of circumstances for Embracer Group and those who work under it, and a bad sign for some of next year’s big releases.

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