Crytek in crisis: 60 layoffs and Crysis 4 development put on hold
Crytek, the German studio behind Crysis, has cut 60 jobs and paused development of Crysis 4. In a statement on X (formerly Twitter), the company cited "difficult market dynamics" as the reason. Crytek acknowledged the industry's current challenges and said these steps are necessary to secure its long-term financial stability.
The 60 layoffs, affecting around 15% of Crytek’s workforce, primarily impact development and support teams. This is part of a broader crisis in the gaming industry, with many studios – including those under Microsoft and Sony – cutting staff in 2024. Rising development costs and economic uncertainties are key factors, along with post-pandemic market shifts that have forced companies to scale back after rapid expansion.
Crysis 4 - future uncertain
Development on Crysis 4, announced in 2022, has officially been put on hold. With almost no updates in the past two years, many are now questioning whether the project has a future at all. The news has ignited a heated debate on Reddit – while some had already lost hope, the disappointment remains strong.
Focus on Hunt: Showdown
Crytek is now shifting its focus to Hunt: Showdown, a multiplayer shooter with a horror-western atmosphere. The game recently surpassed 60,000 concurrent players on Steam and is set to expand further with Hunt: Showdown 1896, aiming to strengthen Crytek’s financial position. However, the community is concerned that this shift could lead to increased monetization and more microtransactions.
