11 bit Project 8 Cancellation and Layoffs

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As a devoted fan who’s followed 11 bit studios’ journey for years, I must say it’s been quite the rollercoaster ride! The trials they’ve faced, from canceling Project 8 to grappling with unprofitable publishing ventures, have been a stark reminder of the challenges indie studios face in this booming yet cutthroat industry.

11-bit studios, a Polish game developer, have held a leading position in the survival genre since they launched “This War of Mine” a decade ago. However, as their CEO Przemysław Marszał clarifies, their journey hasn’t always been an easy one.

During an interview with PAP Biznes, Marszał discussed the challenges faced by a prominent independent studio operating within an industry that’s experiencing both growth and claiming lives. (Paraphrased by Evgeny Obedkov of Game World Observer)

According to Marszał, the entire gaming industry is experiencing a significant financial struggle. Even his own company, which saw unprecedented profits last year, has seen its stock prices hit a seven-year low.

11 bits Studio announced that they were forced to scrap Project 8 earlier this month, resulting in a loss of $12 million invested in its development, and subsequently letting go of 18 team members due to the project’s termination.

Instead of releasing “The Alters,” the company’s clone survival game, by the end of this year, they decided to delay its release until Q1 2025 in order to guarantee a successful and trouble-free debut.

11 bit Studios has also ventured into publishing more recently, but Marszał mentioned that this new venture hasn’t always been successful.

According to the CEO, some of the projects published by our company are yet to become profitable, with “The Thaumaturge” and “Creatures of Ava” being among them. On the other hand, “Indika”, “Moonlighter”, and “The Invincible” have managed to recover 11 bit’s initial investment.

11-bit Studios isn’t just facing hard times; they also confirmed that the company is financially stable, boasting healthy cash reserves, and doesn’t require any extra funds at the moment.

Why Did Project 8 Fail?

As stated by Marszał, 11 Bit Studios viewed the Hellblade series as a benchmark, but due to the shifting trends in the market for such games, they deemed it excessively risky to release another title.

The game had quite an expansive third-person perspective, rich in dynamic action sequences, and it tackled a challenging and profound topic.

-Przemysław Marszał, 11 bit studios CEO

Marszał pointed out that the problems discovered during the development process could have been addressed, but doing so would have required extra development time. By then, the market might no longer be interested in a game like this.

As a passionate admirer, I can’t help but express my thoughts on the turbulent commercial journey of Senua’s Saga: Hellblade II – a game that leaves me awestruck with its breathtaking visuals and captivating narrative. This rollercoaster ride has undeniably solidified in my mind the belief that Project 8 would have been better off never seeing the light of day.

As a dedicated fan, I’m excited to share some intriguing news about the future of my beloved 11 bit studios. The visionary Przemysław Marszał has hinted that the company is currently developing a budget-friendly project, scheduled for release in 2027. Additionally, we can anticipate a significant title within the next four years! I’m eagerly awaiting these new creations from this innovative team.

As I eagerly anticipate the upcoming launch of Moonlighter 2, I can’t help but marvel at the fact that this project represents the digital publishing division’s biggest triumph to date!

Recently, 11 bit studios unveiled a charitable expansion pack for the game “This War of Mine“, centering around a character’s struggles as a writer amidst a city under siege.

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2024-12-27 01:39