Crytek Halts Crysis 4, Announces Layoffs

Crytek, the renowned game developer behind the Crysis series and Hunt: Showdown, has announced a difficult decision: laying off approximately 60 employees, representing 15% of its 400-person workforce. This restructuring, affecting development teams and shared services, comes despite the continued growth of Hunt: Showdown.

In a statement from founder Avni Yerli, Crytek cited challenging market conditions as the primary driver. After pausing development on Crysis 4 in Q3 2024 and shifting resources to Hunt: Showdown, cost-cutting measures proved insufficient to maintain financial stability. Affected employees will receive severance packages and career assistance.

Yerli emphasized Crytek's commitment to the future, highlighting Hunt: Showdown's continued success and the ongoing development of the CRYENGINE. The company remains dedicated to expanding and enhancing Hunt: Showdown with new content.

This news follows the previously unannounced cancellation of a battle royale-inspired Crysis project, codenamed Crysis Next. Footage leaked online in 2024 showcased early gameplay, but the project was ultimately scrapped in favor of Crysis 4, which was officially announced in January 2022. Since then, updates on Crysis 4 have been scarce, leaving fans eagerly awaiting further news.

The Crysis series, known for its groundbreaking visuals and demanding system requirements (giving rise to the popular phrase "But can it run Crysis?"), hasn't seen a mainline entry since Crysis 3 in 2013. While Crytek has released remasters of the original titles, the future of the Crysis franchise remains uncertain following this recent development.