Saints Row and Crimson Faction developer Volition isn’t any extra. The studio’s proprietor, Embracer Group, has closed Volition “efficient instantly,” in response to a press release posted on Volition’s LinkedIn profile. The closure of the Champaign, Illinois-based firm comes shortly after the studio celebrated its 30th anniversary in June.
Volition wrote within the assertion that the studio’s closure is the sufferer of an general restructuring program at proprietor Embracer. In June, the Swedish gaming firm and media conglomerate introduced plans to shut a number of studios and cancel video games within the wake of stories {that a} deal value $2 billion in earnings had fallen by means of. Axios later reported that the Saudi government-funded Savvy Video games Group was the occasion that backed out of an funding take care of Embracer. (Savvy Video games beforehand dedicated $1 billion to Embracer.)
Right here’s Volition’s full assertion on the studio’s closure:
The Volition crew has proudly created world-class leisure for followers across the globe for 30 years. We’ve been pushed by a ardour for our group and all the time labored to ship pleasure, shock, and delight.
This previous June, Embracer Group introduced a restructuring program to strengthen Embracer and keep its place as a frontrunner within the online game business. As a part of that program, they evaluated strategic and operational targets and made the tough resolution to shut Volition efficient instantly.
To assist our crew, we’re working to offer job help and assist clean the transition for our Volition relations. We thank our prospects and followers world wide for all of the love and assist through the years. You’ll all the time be in our hearts.
Volition’s most up-to-date recreation was a reboot of the Saints Row franchise. The brand new Saints Row launched in February 2022 as a refresh of the open-world crime franchise, however underperformed critically and commercially, in response to a 2023 financial report from Embracer.
A improvement supply at Volition mentioned that the closure was sudden — exterior of the general restructuring at Embracer — and swift. An “emergency assembly” was referred to as on Thursday morning and the studio was closed minutes later, in response to a now-former worker.
Polygon has reached out to Plaion, the writer that owns Deep Silver, which Volition was a part of, for touch upon the studio’s closure and can replace when it responds.