Cryptic Studios is Laying Off Staff

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Cryptic Studios is Laying Off Staff

Key Takeaways

  • Cryptic Studios faced new layoffs, impacting more staff.
  • The layoffs follow a round in November 2023 as part of a restructuring effort by Embracer Group.
  • As Cryptic transitions operations of its MMOs to DECA Games, it remains uncertain if new projects are in development.

As a long-time fan and follower of Cryptic Studios, I can’t help but feel a pang of sadness with each news of layoffs that shake this venerable game developer. Having grown up playing games like City of Heroes, Champions Online, Star Trek Online, and Neverwinter, I have a deep connection to the creative minds behind these titles.

As a passionate admirer, I’m finding myself compelled to share some recent developments about Cryptic Studios. It seems that the team at this esteemed game developer is going through another round of layoffs, barely a year after the previous one. Known for their exceptional work, Cryptic Studios is responsible for creating and maintaining the massively multiplayer online games, Neverwinter and Star Trek Online.

Cryptic Studios, established in 2000, has a longstanding presence in the world of persistent online multiplayer games. They are renowned for creating some of the best Massively Multiplayer Online Role-Playing Games (MMORPGs), such as “City of Heroes”, which left an indelible mark on the genre and influenced many superhero online games. Additionally, they developed other MMORPGs like “Champions Online” based on the tabletop game “Champions”, “Star Trek Online”, a massively multiplayer online game set in the Star Trek universe, and “Neverwinter”. The latter two games are still being managed by Cryptic Studios.

It appears that Cryptic Studios is facing another period of uncertainty, as reported by Game Developer. Multiple employees from Cryptic Studios have announced on social media platforms such as LinkedIn and Twitter that they’ve been let go, with the last day being October 31, 2024. The precise number of individuals affected isn’t certain, but it includes key personnel like Character Artist Amelia March and Senior Artist Mauricio Tejerina. Star Trek Online Art Director Thomas Marrone, who designed several Star Trek Online ships that were later acknowledged in the Star Trek: Picard series, has confirmed the layoffs via Twitter, expressing his sorrow at the situation, stating that many people are being released “without blame” and their absence will be significantly felt.

Cryptic Studios Layoffs Affect Multiple Staff

Almost a year ago, we experienced another round of job cuts, following the layoffs that occurred in November 2023. These redundancies were part of an ambitious “reorganization” initiative undertaken by Embracer Group, resulting in the dismissal of countless talented developers across their studio network.

During a period of unpredictability for Cryptic Studios as a whole, recent layoffs occur. Despite the ongoing operation and thriving player communities of both “Star Trek Online” and “Neverwinter”, the company is undergoing a shift in operations and development of these titles to DECA Games, a division of Embracer Group specializing in free-to-play and live service games. Upon completion of this transition, it remains uncertain if Cryptic Studios has any further projects in development.

The turbulence caused by Embracer Group’s financial deal breakdown still echoes among developers and employees, with lasting impacts felt to this day. Interestingly, Embracer Group is currently undergoing a separation process, distributing the extensive library of IPs and development studios it acquired during its acquisition spree in past years.

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2024-10-13 17:55