You might remember Crytek for their various games and franchises, like the original Far Cry and Crysis. You might know them better for their engines and beautiful visuals. What you might not know, however, is that it seems the company is basically on the verge of falling apart.
That's right: We've got a Crysis Alert.
KotakuAs Crytek continues to face financial difficulties, we're hearing of more departures at the troubled company. This week, Homefront: The Revolution game director Hasit Zala resigned from his position at Crytek UK, according to three people familiar with goings-on at the studio.
...Crytek UK development manager Ben Harris also left the studio this month, and a number of other people have either left or are openly looking for new employment as of this week, sources say. The exact number is hard to pin down, as Crytek UK is in flux as staff await news on the studio's future, but the departures includes senior leadership—just two weeks ago, studio head Karl Hilton confirmed to me that he was leaving his role, though he said he plans to stay within the company.
"It creates a weird scenario as there are now no upper management," said a person connected to Crytek UK. "Everything is just continuing on a downwards spiral."
"People haven't been paid for a long time," said a second person connected to the studio.
[prebreak]Continue Reading...[/prebreak]
As it turns out, the North Koreans are capable of destroying the West after all. I mean, it's only a Western developer, and it's really more self-inflicted, but at least it's something.
But yeah. There have been continuing reports of trouble with the studio, from missed paychecks to delays to resigning staff members. A sequel to Ryse was even reportedly dropped. As it turns out, pouring money into the crowded marketplace of F2P shooters and MOBAs was not a very smart idea. Whoda thunk?
So, Homefront helped kill THQ and looks like it might finish Crytek. I'd call that a double kill.