Forgot password
Enter the email address you used when you joined and we'll send you instructions to reset your password.
If you used Apple or Google to create your account, this process will create a password for your existing account.
This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.
Reset password instructions sent. If you have an account with us, you will receive an email within a few minutes.
Something went wrong. Try again or contact support if the problem persists.
Tomb Raider & Perfect Dark Dev Crystal Dynamics Layoffs Avengers Embracer

Tomb Raider & Perfect Dark Dev Crystal Dynamics Hit With Layoffs

Tomb Raider, Perfect Dark, and Marvel’s Avengers developer Crystal Dynamics has been hit with a round of layoffs, making it the latest Embracer Group-owned company to suffer similar losses (via Game Developer).

Recommended Videos

Some now-former members of the Crystal Dynamics team first posted about the layoffs on social media. Nick Edwards, who previously served as senior brand manager for the developer, was one of the individuals affected. Edwards’ post says that he and “a number of talented brand/marketing folks at Crystal are impacted.” Senior community & social media manager Neha Nair, meanwhile, was let go after three-and-a-half years at the company. Crystal Dynamics also published an X post addressing the layoffs, saying, “Crystal Dynamics made the difficult decision to part ways with 9 Brand/Marketing and 1 IT employee today due to an internal restructuring to align the studio with our current business needs.”

“Sadly I’ve joined the ranks of those impacted by the 2023 gaming workforce reductions,” former Crystal Dynamics communications director Adam Kahn said in a LinkedIn post. “I loved Crystal Dynamics and wish them the best! Let me know if you know of anyone looking for a seasoned gaming PR vet!”

Embracer-owned entities have been subjected to a barrage of layoffs and studio shutdowns throughout the last year. Perhaps the most notorious change saw Saints Row developer Volition closing its doors in August. Not to be understated, however, is the closure of Lara Croft Go developer Onoma last November. Embracer warned of efforts to restructure in June 2023, and at the time, Crystal Dynamics assured fans that new Tomb Raider and Perfect Dark games would not be affected. Unfortunately, it seems the studio was still unable to escape the company-wide changes.

Embracer, which acquired the rights to the entire The Lords of the Rings franchise last year, has continued to make major changes to the lives of those who work under its wide umbrella, and it’s possible that those changes won’t end with the Crystal Dynamics layoffs. Earlier this month, a report suggesting that the company was interested in selling Borderlands developer Gearbox Software emerged. Nothing official about a potential sale has been stated, but with Embracer so clearly faced with financial woes, another serious alteration to its lineup such as this would be anything but a surprise. If the company does move to let more of its workforce go or sell Gearbox, you can be sure to read about it here.


The Escapist is supported by our audience. When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn a small affiliate commission. Learn more about our Affiliate Policy
Author
Image of Michael Cripe
Michael Cripe
Michael joined The Escapist team in 2019 but has been covering games, movies, TV, and music since 2015. When he’s not writing, Michael is probably playing Super Mario Sunshine, Dead Space, The Binding of Isaac, or Doom Eternal. You can follow his news coverage and reviews at The Escapist, but his work has appeared on other sites like OnlySP, Gameranx, and Kansas City’s The Pitch, too. If you’d like to connect and talk about the latest pop-culture news, you can follow Michael on Twitter (@MikeCripe), Instagram (mike_cripe), or LinkedIn if that’s your thing.