Embracer Group Shuts Down Alone in the Dark Developer Pieces Interactive

anthonyasmnnert

Alone in the Dark developer Pieces Interactive has been shut down by its parent company, Embracer Group, following a series of closures by the Swedish conglomerate. Embracer Group has gained a reputation for acquiring and subsequently shuttering multiple subdivisions in recent years. Alone in the Dark, a reimagining of Infogrames's 1992 series, was released in March 2024 to mixed reviews, despite featuring a compelling lead duo in Jodie Comer and David Harbour. The original game was one of the earliest survival horror titles, but the 2024 remake failed to capture the same impact.

Embracer Group, formerly known as Nordic Games, operates out of Karlstad, Sweden, and owns over 100 studios, including Coffee Stain Studios (Goat Simulator), Cryptic Studios (Star Trek Online), Crystal Dynamics (Tomb Raider), and Dark Horse Comics, the publisher behind Star Wars, 300, and Buffy the Vampire Slayer. Since 2022, many studios under Embracer Group have faced layoffs. By late 2023, the company had laid off more than 900 employees to reduce a $2 billion debt.

Pieces Interactive posted a statement on its website, shared by IGN, which read: "2007 - 2024, Thanks for playing with us." The studio reflected on its 17 years in the gaming community, mentioning titles such as Puzzlegeddon, Fret Nice, Leviathan Warships, Robo Surf, and Kill to Collect. The statement noted that Pieces Interactive was acquired by Embracer Group in 2017 following the success of the RPG Titan Quest and its expansion packs, Titan Quest: Ragnarok and Titan Quest: Atlantis. Embracer Group recently divided itself into three entities to better manage its subsidiaries. Former Pieces Interactive employee Gustav Pethrus confirmed the closure on LinkedIn, with other former employees reporting layoffs since mid-April.

It appears that Alone in the Dark did not meet Embracer Group's sales expectations, leading to the shutdown of Pieces Interactive. According to GamesIndustry.biz, Embracer Group has 141 development projects in progress, down from a previous 221, indicating the cancellation of around 80 projects over the last few years. Despite these cancellations, Alone in the Dark was completed and released. Although it received mixed reviews, the game was favorably compared to the Resident Evil franchise for its third-person, over-the-shoulder perspective and combat mechanics.

The Alone in the Dark series has contributed to the gaming industry's growth for years, with initial talks of a remake following the release of the fifth installment, Alone in the Dark: Inferno. However, the project was canceled after the liquidation of developer Eden Games. Alone in the Dark director Mikael Hedberg, known for his work on Amnesia: The Dark Descent, and artist Guy Davis, who collaborated with Guillermo del Toro on Pinocchio's concept art, brought their talents to the remake. Despite this skilled team, Alone in the Dark did not meet Embracer Group's expectations, leading to the closure of Pieces Interactive.