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Crytek Going Through Transitional Phase

By - Source: GameSpot | B 21 comments

Over the last several weeks, we have seen reports that Crysis 3 developer Crytek was in financial trouble. There was talk that the staff hadn't been paid for months, that many members had walked out, and that a number of games were canceled. During this time, Crytek kept quiet, leaving the press and fans to speculate about the fate of this studio.

The company has now come forward with an explanation, reporting that it's going through a "transitional phase."

"In recent weeks, there have been repeated reports and rumors relating to financial problems at Crytek," stated a letter from the company. "Having already given an update to staff across all our studios, we are now in a position to share more details with members of the press and public."

The letter said that the company is moving from being simply a developer to becoming online publisher, which requires the company to refocus its strategies. "These challenges go along with an increased demand for capital which we have secured," the company added without explaining how this capital was obtained. Did the company sell part of itself to cover its debts?

Crytek said that with the capital now secured, it can concentrate on the long term strategic direction. However, fans will need to have patience and understanding, as the company has no plans to disclose any additional information about the transition and aftermath.

"We are thankful for the support and encouragement we've received from our community and our partners, and for the contribution all of our staff have made," the letter read. "We remain committed to doing what we are best known for and trying to develop the best interactive experiences and technology possible for everyone who loves gaming."

In an interesting twist, the letter concludes by saying that the company hopes to share more positive news soon. Crytek is the developer of a number of games including Crysis and Far Cry. The company also licenses out its CryEngine game engine, which is currently powering 2K Games' Evolve and Chris Roberts' Star Citizen.

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Top Comments
  • 11 Hide
    ddpruitt , July 28, 2014 9:42 AM
    "Transitional phase" tends to be MBA speak for going bankrupt, getting ready to sell of assets, and laying people off. Feel sorry for those that haven't gotten paid, they did some damn fine work.
Other Comments
  • 11 Hide
    ddpruitt , July 28, 2014 9:42 AM
    "Transitional phase" tends to be MBA speak for going bankrupt, getting ready to sell of assets, and laying people off. Feel sorry for those that haven't gotten paid, they did some damn fine work.
  • 6 Hide
    dstarr3 , July 28, 2014 9:51 AM
    It's a real shame when talent gets snuffed out because of a silly little thing like money.
  • Display all 21 comments.
  • 1 Hide
    junkeymonkey , July 28, 2014 9:53 AM
    I would have bought more of there games if they were 100% on the disk and not have to do the steam thing any game that requires a 3ed party or whatever to dictate the game to me is just a no sale item when a game requires you to give access to my computer as in steams agreement ''with out limitations'' I don't think so .. put the full game on the disk -no internet required - no origen or steam accounts required - nothing but me my computer and the game disk and then I may spend my money on you until then go broke I got plenty of games that don't need all this blackmail it load or play as I see fit..
  • 1 Hide
    coolitic , July 28, 2014 10:15 AM
    The main problem I have with Crytek is that they try to take on many projects at a time and don't put enough work into individual games so they remain unfinished/unpolished.
  • 8 Hide
    rohitbaran , July 28, 2014 10:18 AM
    Just give me more Crysis games (similar to Crysis 1, not 2 and 3), or some new well designed shooter.
  • 4 Hide
    Innocent_Bystander , July 28, 2014 10:19 AM
    Transitioning from regular operations to insolvency?
  • 0 Hide
    junkeymonkey , July 28, 2014 10:22 AM
    like crisis 1 did not need nothing but the disk buy it load it and play it -- no internet [unless you mp] no steam-no origin nothing it was yours to use with out outside interference or content -- the way it should be
  • 3 Hide
    SirKnobsworth , July 28, 2014 10:25 AM
    No money, staff leaving, struggling to find a new business model. Sounds like one Crysis after another with them...
  • 1 Hide
    junkeymonkey , July 28, 2014 10:33 AM
    anyone checked out or played there warface online game??
  • 0 Hide
    thechief73 , July 28, 2014 10:59 AM
    I found "Aftermath" an odd choice of words for someone trying to purvey a positive message about their company. In my mind Crytek was dead as soon as they decided to alienate the PC player base and go for a console and pay to win money grab. With Farcry and Crysis they had two cash cows to milk but somehow they were misguided, lost focus and threw it all away.
  • 2 Hide
    junkeymonkey , July 28, 2014 11:07 AM
    well farcry is controlled by ubisoft and crytek got put out in the cold by them on that game
    as said crisis was a real pc game and not a $60 steam client that you go through them [steam-origin] to get permission to play as they feel you should
    and if you don't agree you don't play or even get to load any of the game so in the end you just got a $60 blank disk
  • 3 Hide
    rohitbaran , July 28, 2014 11:29 AM
    Quote:
    well farcry is controlled by ubisoft and crytek got put out in the cold by them on that game
    as said crisis was a real pc game and not a $60 steam client that you go through them [steam-origin] to get permission to play as they feel you should
    and if you don't agree you don't play or even get to load any of the game so in the end you just got a $60 blank disk

    What do steam or origin have to do with this? This applies to any games on those platform, not just Crytek's. Also, Crysis 1 and 2 are both available on steam and Crysis 1 had that horrible securom which is far worse than steam.
  • 0 Hide
    Morbus , July 28, 2014 11:35 AM
    This is what happens when you sell out to the consoles: you go bust.
  • -1 Hide
    soccerplayer88 , July 28, 2014 11:45 AM
    At this point I wouldn't be surprised if Crytek just decided to stick to licensing their engine (CryEngine) and make money that way.

    They've never really made a solid game, but they made one hell of a dynamic and flexible engine.
  • -2 Hide
    junkeymonkey , July 28, 2014 11:51 AM
    but the thing is I hold the game they can stop me form using it they don't have access to my computer ''with out limitation's'' nothing , I don't need to answer or beg to them at all I do not have to accept there mandatory down loads cause if they want to down load or up load from you you cant stop them as long as you accepted there agreement as I stated above or you get revoked and your done right ?? see I don't

    like origin its sad they have to try to show that there agreement is not spyware right up front near first thing wow yu got to try that hard to convince me of that first to get me fooled to agree to it ??

    yes sir its got a lot to do with it if your dumb enough to fall for it and spend money on it ,well enjoy

    would you turn over access to your computer with out limitations [steam] ?? but you do for a game from a who knows what located out side the us of a with out blinking an eye

    I'm glad I'm an old gamer with 100's of games that just require me in privacy


    ''What do steam or origin have to do with this'' -- well the difference between getting my money to live on and not getting my money to stay going I guess
  • 0 Hide
    junkeymonkey , July 28, 2014 12:26 PM
    how may games is this being used on seeing how you agreed to your computers access ''with out limitations'' ?? funny how you gladly pay for this

    http://www.nbcnews.com/tech/video-games/nsas-virtual-waste-time-spying-world-warcraft-harder-you-think-f2D11724106
  • 2 Hide
    deftonian , July 28, 2014 12:27 PM
    When Crytek mentions anything "long term" I stop reading, because anything following that is just a lie. They like to plan for the future and will only support a game for the first few months. After that, they abandon it and leave the community burned and irritated at the unpolished and unbalanced game [here's looking at you Crysis 2 and 3]. Crytek has burned most of it's fan base with this method and this is why they will continue to fail. Both those games had so much potential had they just stuck with it and supported the cash cows. I guess they forget that the people who buy the game are the ones who pay their bills and support the company.
  • 3 Hide
    jdog2pt0 , July 28, 2014 12:38 PM
    And this, ladies and gentlemen, is why we do not associate ourselves with the likes of EA.
  • -2 Hide
    junkeymonkey , July 28, 2014 12:43 PM
    well as for them I did enjoy there games of the past but all I can say no matter what they do if its a game that's not under my control that I can use in private as it use to be then just go under I'm not giving up my hard drive just to play a game

    that war face game, I thought look interesting and something I would spend money on but it goes back to all I said above
  • 0 Hide
    tomfreak , July 28, 2014 11:49 PM
    dont fix what is not broken, Crysis 1 is sucessful and they fix with broken console design in Crysis 2&3 = fail
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