Crystal Dynamics, the studio that brought us Tomb Raider and worked on the Perfect Dark reboot, has cut 17 jobs in a strategic downsizing.
According to the studio, this move was made to “better align our current business needs and the studio’s future success.”
The company clarified that it was “not a reflection of the dedication or ability of those affected” but more of a necessary shift in the team’s structure, given how challenging the game industry has become.
Crystal Dynamics shared the news via an official statement on social media, calling the layoffs a “difficult decision” and offering “transition packages and opportunity outreach” to assist the affected employees.
The layoffs may impact only a small portion of the studio’s 300-plus team, but they are part of a larger trend of job cuts across the industry.This isn't the first instance of Crystal Dynamics downsizing.
During the 2023 restructuring by Embracer Group, the studio laid off employees from its marketing division.
After taking over the studio from Square Enix in 2022, Embracer has made repeated cuts across its subsidiaries to streamline operations.
Earlier this year, the company said more layoffs were coming to boost shareholder value. The studio has also been keeping its legacy titles alive, working with Aspyr on remasters of classic games like Tomb Raider and Legacy of Kain: Soul Reaver.
These releases have filled the gap while fans await new entries in the series, particularly since Tomb Raider has been silent since 2018's Shadow of the Tomb Raider.
Time will show how much this leaner approach will affect Perfect Dark or Tomb Raider, but for now, development seems steady and more cautious.