crystal dynamics Archives

15 Games Cancelled Due To Embracer Layoffs

Gabriel Stanford-Reisinger November 22, 2023 News 0 Comments

The mass layoffs spearheaded by holding company Embracer Group have led to the culling of over a dozen games that will most likely never see the light of day. Saints Row studio Volition shuttered this year, Crystal Dynamics slashed jobs, Gearbox may change hands amid two new games reportedly in the works, and in total, around 900 people — or 5% of Embracer’s workforce — lost positions.

Gamereactor reports that alongside the 5% workforce reduction, 15 games were axed. Considering how many people were given the boot, it isn’t that shocking that games previously in the works were shaken up by the ongoing restructuring efforts after Emrbacer and Savvy Games Group deal fell through.

It isn’t clear how many of these projects were in the later stages of development or public knowledge.

What do you think? Is it sad seeing 15 games canned due to corporate restructuring? Let us know below!

New Tomb Raider Game In Full-Swing

Gabriel Stanford-Reisinger January 22, 2023 News 0 Comments

A new Tomb Raider game is in full swing over at Crystal Dynamics. The game will likely be a continuation of Lara Croft’s adventures.

Miller Ross, the same insider who broke the news about Marvel’s Avengers shutting down, alleges that with the Crystal Dynamics team without having to maintain the live-service project, the next entry in the Tomb Raider franchise has a lot more attention internally.

It’s worth noting that we’ve known that a new game was in the works in some capacity and while Embracer Group was leading the expectations of publishing the title, that isn’t the case. Late last year, it was revealed that Amazon Games had acquired publishing rights to the next game and assured fans that it’ll be multiplatform.

It’s alleged the reveal is coming this year, according to eXputer. If you can’t wait until the reveal, though, PowerWash Simulator teamed up with Crystal Dynamics for an upcoming update letting players clean the Croft manor slated for January 31, coinciding with its PlayStation launch.

Marvel’s Avengers Halts Content Support In September

Gabriel Stanford-Reisinger January 21, 2023 News 0 Comments

Crystal Dynamics is putting a halt Marvel’s Avengers’ content support later this year. The game was being supported with new content and updates for two and half years.

The decision was made by the developers alongside its partners, according to its blog. You will still be able to play the game’s multiplayer and single-player for the foreseeable future, but Crystal Dynamics makes no promise how long you will be able to after content support ends in September.

Credits will no longer be purchasable come March 31 and all existing credits will be turned into in-game resources. Provided you own the game ahead of March 31, they are also thanking the community by making all Shipment cosmetics, Challenge Cards, and Marketplace content free for existing users. This means all outfits, nameplates, takedowns, and emotes will be accessible.

As part of its content support ending, once September 30 rolls around, Crystal Dynamics will be de-listing Marvel’s Avengers from all digital marketplaces, not allowing people from purchasing the game without hoping to find it on store shelves while supplies last.

PowerWash Simulator Lets You Scrub The Tomb Raider Manor

Gabriel Stanford-Reisinger January 19, 2023 News 0 Comments

Ahead of PowerWash Simulator releasing on PlayStation consoles, it seems FuturLab has revealed a free crossover coming soon. The powerwashing sim has exploded in popularity thanks to its comforting and rewarding system and with the simple gameplay, feels right at home with doing crossovers.

Earlier this week, FuturLab revealed they’ve partnered with IP owner Crystal Dynamics alongside Square Enix to bring the iconic Croft manor from the Tomb Raider series into the game. The content will be a free update for all and will release coinciding with the PlayStation launch.

Despite the game being published by Square Enix, as of late last year, Tomb Raider rights were passed off to Crystal Dynamics, the ones who have been in charge of the latest entries of the series. Lo and behold, in this update, you’ll get to know what it’s like cleaning the Croft manor. We’re not sure exactly how it ended up as disheveled and grime-covered as it is, but we don’t ask questions, we just powerwash.

FuturLab marks January 31, 2023 as the game’s release date.

Official PowerWash Simulator update description

“Wash Lara Croft’s home back to its former glory with the soothing sounds of high-pressure water in the new Special Pack coming to the game.”

Amazon Games To Publish Next Tomb Raider

Gabriel Stanford-Reisinger December 15, 2022 News 0 Comments

Amazon Games has struck a deal with Crystal Dynamics, leading to the former taking publishing control of the next major entry to the Tomb Raider franchise. The deal allows for CD to keep up its work while receiving “full support” and global publishing from its partner.

The next entry in the famed franchise will keep to its single-player, third-person roots topped off with the expected narrative adventure and puzzles to complete. We know that it will be developed on Unreal Engine 5, according to Amazon Games’ blog (via Insider Gaming) and will mark the most expansive entry in the franchise. The game has no title as of right now.

For those somehow out of the loop, Tomb Raider follows adventurer Lara Croft, as she takes on daring adventures to find relics and unravel mysteries. The franchise has its roots all the way back in 1996 where it debuted on the Sega Saturn followed by others, including a PlayStation version. The game has since continued a relatively successful path with its last mainline entry in 2018 and a recreation of the original game on mobile earlier this year.

Amazon believes it’s able to provide much needed support to make sure the game is the highest quality it can be.

“Amazon Games is committed to bringing players games of the highest quality, from the best developers, across all variety of platforms and genres, and we’re honored by the opportunity to work with this storied developer and franchise. Our team is incredibly excited about collaborating with the talented and visionary Crystal Dynamics team to bring the next chapter of Lara Croft’s saga to players around the world.”

The reveal isn’t all sunshine and rainbows, though, considering we’ll have to wait and see if this actually works out or if this will end up like so many other Amazon Games projects and end up lackluster or just coming out at all.

Marvel’s Avengers Spider-Man DLC Launches Soon

Gabriel Stanford-Reisinger November 11, 2021 News 0 Comments

We knew that everyone’s favorite web-slinger would join the fight in Marvel’s Avengers sometime this year even after the delay back in March. Now, it’s closer than expected, but also makes sense with how close we are to the end of the year.

Marvel dropped a brand-new trailer displaying Spidey in all his glory fending off some baddies and eventually getting the help of the Avengers. The web-slinger was first announced as a DLC character back in early August 2020 exclusively for the PlayStation.

This news comes not long after Square Enix placed Marvel’s Avengers’ lackluster performance squarely in the hands of Crystal Dynamics, which, at the time, didn’t have any chops in the games as a service model.

Fans can expect to play as Spider-Man starting on November 30.