The Embracer Group owned studio Piranha Bytes, developers of the cult favorite Gothic, Risen, and Elex series of RPGs, was reportedly shut down sometime in June according to a report by Polish gaming website CD-Action.
Earlier this year, the studio addressed rumors about the studio in a post on Twitter/X, stating that the studio was “in a difficult situation.” Piranha Bytes asked its fans not to write the studio off and explained that it was seeking a partner, but unfortunately it looks like that has not panned out.
Not long after the report started making the rounds, Piranha Bytes former creative director Bjorn Pankratz and his wife Jennifer, also a former employee at Piranha Bytes, announced the founding of a new indie development studio called Pithead Studio.
With Pithead Studio we have founded a new indie studio.In the future we will develop immersive and fantastic indie games.Curious? Then take a look at our latest video.https://t.co/qTTwtLqtnmPlease spread the word!#pithead #pitheadstudio #indiedev pic.twitter.com/oCzXAKKwtJ
— Pithead Studio (@PitheadStudio) July 8, 2024
Sadly, those hoping this means good news for the future of the Gothic, Risen, or Elex titles should know that these IP are still property of THQ Nordic, for which Piranha Bytes was a subsidiary of.
The shuttering of Piranha Bytes is just the latest in a string of studio closures initiated by Embracer Group as part of its restructuring plan. Last month, Alone in the Dark developer Pieces Interactive was shut down.
