Crysis 4 Development Paused; Crytek Lays Off Up to 60 Employees

Crytek, the renowned game developer behind the iconic Crysis series, has announced a significant round of layoffs, impacting 60 of its 400 employees. This decision comes as the company grapples with the challenging market dynamics affecting the gaming industry. In a tweet, Crytek acknowledged that despite the growth of their popular game Hunt: Showdown, they could not "continue as before and remain financially sustainable."

The layoffs, which affect 15% of Crytek's workforce, span across the company's development teams and shared services. This move follows the decision to put Crysis 4 "on hold" in late 2024, as Crytek attempted to shift staff to work on Hunt: Showdown to reduce costs and operating expenses. Despite these efforts, the layoffs became "inevitable," according to the company.

Crytek's founder, Avni Yerli, released a full statement expressing the difficulty of the decision and the company's appreciation for its talented teams. Yerli emphasized the ongoing growth of Hunt: Showdown 1896 but highlighted the necessity of the layoffs to ensure financial sustainability. Crytek is committed to supporting affected employees with severance packages and career assistance services.

Yerli also reaffirmed Crytek's belief in its future, particularly with Hunt: Showdown 1896, which they plan to continue expanding and evolving. Additionally, Crytek remains dedicated to the development of their engine, CRYENGINE.

Last year, it was revealed that Crytek had been working on a battle royale-inspired Crysis project codenamed Crysis Next. Early gameplay footage surfaced on YouTube, showcasing third-person shooting in a basic warm-up arena with the series' signature abilities and sound effects. However, Crysis Next was never officially announced and was ultimately canceled in favor of Crysis 4, which was announced in January 2022.

The Crysis series, known for its stunning visuals, innovative nanosuit powers, and open-ended gameplay, has been a benchmark for PC performance since the release of the first game in 2007. The phrase "But can it run Crysis?" became a popular way to gauge a PC's capabilities. The last mainline entry, Crysis 3, was released in February 2013. While Crytek has released remasters of the original games in recent years, fans have been eagerly awaiting updates on Crysis 4 since its announcement and teaser three years ago.