250°

Crytek Shanghai Reportedly Closed Following Failure to Pay Rent and Salaries

Crytek’s financial woes hardly surprise us anymore but it continues to pop up in the news every now and then for questionable management practices. The studio’s latest victims are its Shanghai-based employees, who’ve reportedly been unpaid since September 2016.

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playstationlifestyle.net
2563d ago
windblowsagain2563d ago

Unpaid, that just isn't on.

Crytek failed to understand so many things.

A shooter needs more then some fancy graphics and physics. The MP has to be the most solid of all now. They squandered it with Crysis. Although SP it was decent in many places.

Ryse was good, but was never going to be a massive seller. Those types of games never are. 1.4million sold. A second Ryse would be a waste of time.

For the engine they have. An action RPG would have been the right way to go.

Hopefully they can salvage something from it.

EatCrow2562d ago

Ryse still is one of the better games this gen since launch.
I like roman gladiator settings tho.

I believe MS tried to buy Ryse IP afterwards. Hopefully they do before Crytek goes completely under.

indyman77772562d ago

Hopefully they do so AFTER it goes completely under. Because THEN is when they will get the best price. But you may STILL be right because if they pay more for it they will be under pressure to do something with it and to justify spending a lot.

I hope all the FULLS that came on here and DEFENDED Crytek and their slezy executive who called his employees impatient because QUOTE: "it has ONLY been six months since they got paid". How many people can go two weeks without getting paid? There is always sellouts because they liked the game.

krypt19832562d ago

Ryse was a great game the story was solid gameplay and combat was solid, i look at ryse how i did the first arkham batman game, combat was stale because the set of moves was limited but it was a great framework for a franchise. Ryse 2 could of been amazing is they addressed then issues it could have been microsofts god of war. The crysis franchise was amazing the only multiplayer that sucked was 3 and it really didn't even suck you just don't split your multiplayer base when the audience for the game isn't that hugh. I honestly don't know where crytek went wrong they use to be a great company maybe they expanded too much too fast?

Godmars2902562d ago

Pity then that when Crytek came onto the scene graphics were the only thing that mattered.

2562d ago
dkp232562d ago

Sjould of sold ryse ip to ms.

LexHazard792562d ago

You crazy.. Ryse 2 needs to happen por favor.

mark_parch2562d ago

I recently downloaded ryse as it was free with gwg. the game is amazing, super fun gameplay, great story, amazing graphics and a surprisingly good multiplayer. I really really hope there's a sequel. the critics scores really hurt the game. if they had released a demo at launch I think it would have done much better. I think it's criminal how some critics scored it lower than 7.

+ Show (3) more repliesLast reply 2562d ago
conanlifts2563d ago

Someone really needs to buy crytek. It would make sense for ms to do it, but i do not think they will.

Puertorock772562d ago

Why would buying a company that earns little money in games sales makes sense in buying?

Eldyraen2562d ago

Because if crytek had better management and financial decision makers, they wouldn't be in the same position they are now (assumption on my part, but seems likely).

Plus it could give MS multiple new Dev teams at the same time. What they did with them
though is questionable as MS doesn't have the best track record with some of their pick ups/partners (Lionhead/Scalebound being some of the more recent high profile ones).

_-EDMIX-_2562d ago

@Puertor- To flip the IP or to use the studio to create an FPS of an IP they own, ie Nintendo could use them for their own IPs, Metroid or even a new IP.

Think Smash Brothers, means Team Fortress 2, FPS game that has a bunch of Nintendo characters and classes, DK as a Heavy, Samus as assault class, Kid Icarus as Recon and Sniping, Peach as health etc

Don't think of a team as simply an IP, think of a team as a core group of developers that can create a game, doesn't need to be a game that "earns little money" as you are talking about a IP that failed, NOT about a team in general. Yes, their games as of late have sold poorly, well their team direction as been bad, doesn't mean the team is bad or that the team can't produce quality.

We've seen many teams in gaming go from "meh" to OMG very quickly.

Who knows what a great publisher can do with Crytek.

TheUndertaker852562d ago

Because the company is capable of producing games and has gaming products on the market proving their employees did something even with Crytek giving them this treatment. Further those same employees may be able to produce better results with a different engine and company.

Puertorock772562d ago

@_-EDMIX-_

And who's that great publisher? Microsoft? If that was the case what happened with Platinum Games with Scalebound. It doesn't make sense for any company to buy Crytek when the core developers that make up the studio don't develop games that are sell. I can see maybe buying a few talent here and there to build a new studio but to buy them as a whole is a waste.

They're known for graphics but as you can see it didn't help them in the long run. Crytek don't really make appealing games to the masses. Buying them would be a money pit.

TheUndertaker852562d ago

What you're comparing though just doesn't work. Under Crytek Cryengine is king but frankly Cryengine doesn't cut it. It's why they use it the way they do.
https://www.cryengine.com

The team seems to be competent with what they're using. Imagine what they could possibly do with a different, better engine. Crytek as a company can be swallowed.

indyman77772562d ago

Good question. I have a reason. Crytek has a GRAPHICS reputation. Microsoft is trying to make a comeback with a new machine that is good in......GRAPHICS. They have MARKETING that money can't buy built into their name that says cutting edge graphics.

I have a second reaons. Imagine HALO in Crytek graphics on Scorpio, or even Forza or a new IP many people have been calling for new IP's from Microsoft.

I have a third reason.
Look at Sony they have a division that helps many other internal divisions with graphics on games and it helps a LOT. Microsoft can do the same with Crytek.

+ Show (3) more repliesLast reply 2562d ago
_-EDMIX-_2562d ago

https://www.rockpapershotgu...

Maybe Sega, I mean they already bought one of their studios.

2562d ago
conanlifts2562d ago (Edited 2562d ago )

That's possible. MS need more ips and a way to expand the number of games produced, which is why i mentioned them. But i do not think it likely that hey will buy them out. Sega are the most likely if it happens.

_-EDMIX-_2562d ago

@sd11- Agreed. MS can use them for a AAA FPS, they can use them for Halo and let 343 do something else new, they can use them for Ryse etc. That team would be a smart buy, I don't know how much of the Crytek folk in Shanghai did on those IPs though, just a thought.

Sega could buy them based on already buying up one of their teams, who knows. Hope someone helps the out as I can see MS, Sega or even Nintendo needing a great FPS developer for future projects

SaveFerris2563d ago

I hope the employees manage to find new jobs, but can they sue for the unpaid salaries?

EatCrow2562d ago

This seems to be common in the industry...Bit of a shame.

2562d ago
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270°

Microsoft Seemingly Closes Bethesda France

As part of its plans to cut 1,900 jobs, Microsoft has reportedly shut down operations at Bethesda France, letting go roughly 15 people

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insider-gaming.com
Hereandthere16h ago

Microsoft should have left them stay 3rd party

GamerRN14h ago

If they are let go, they can be whatever they want. They ARE 3rd party now... 🤦

Barlos11h ago

Yeah, they're also jobless.

GamerRN4h ago

They can form a company if they want, they are just as jobless as if "Microsoft had left them as 3rd party".

peppeaccardo6h ago

"MIcrosoft leaves Bethesda do what they know how to do best" ... close! Oh the irony ....
(Citation from a week old article)

ChasterMies2h ago

I think Microsoft and other game publishers are letting people go because they think ai will replace them. Doesn’t matter how much profit they make. They were always going to be let go.

PassNextquestion16h ago(Edited 16h ago)

Bethesda France was made up of roughly 15 people... they couldn't of being doing much

Bethesda France mainly did publishing and marketing within the region

blacktiger14h ago

that's a shame for you to say that, i'm sure Elite loves hearing what you just said.

Mr Logic12m ago

What a stupid thing to say. The elites give 0 fucks what we say on an obscure website in the comments section.

Profchaos16h ago(Edited 16h ago)

Bethesda France focused on publishing and marketing in the region. And 15 people lost their jobs as part of the closure.

I wonder if this is part of Microsoft's strategy to abandoned physical media or possibly gamepass advertising makes their roles redundant you don't need to market a game as hard when the majority of players get the game as part of a sub which already promoted upcoming games

Tacoboto15h ago

It's France too, there's a high likelihood only 1-2 people on the team even had an Xbox.

Profchaos15h ago

Possibly guven all the leaks we know the Xbox brand is really struggling in the region.

Yi-Long12h ago

Well, if your consoles and games are barely found in any stores any more, of course you're gonna struggle finding consumers ...

XiNatsuDragnel14h ago

Tbh Microsoft I think Bethesda being 3rd party same with Activision would probably more competitive than thus scenario imo

Profchaos13h ago(Edited 13h ago)

I think it would have been better for all parties really especially gamers

TheColbertinator14h ago

The recently purchased Activision French offices might take over all the licensing and marketing for Microsoft in France from now on.

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70°

I’m Glad Atlus & SE Changed Dates To Avoid Competing With Shadow Of The Erdtree

Saad from eXputer: "I'm glad I don't have to choose between Square Enix, Atlus, and FromSoftware due to bad release windows and Shadow of the Erdtree."

H91d 10h ago

More intelligent than guerilla games

raWfodog16h ago(Edited 16h ago)

Atlus is releasing their game one week before Erdtree, SE is releasing theirs one week after.

HZD released four days before Zelda, HFW released one week before Elden Ring.

It seems to me like they are still releasing their games too close to Erdtree.

130°

Sony Could Increase Your Game's Difficulty If It Sees You Complain About It

Sony has recently published a new patent that wants to dynamically handle the games' difficulty and gameplay based on the player's emotions.

jznrpg17h ago

This is something I might use. Sometimes I play some good games but they don’t have difficulty option and are a little too easy.

Profchaos17h ago

Souls games will be like that players struggling make it harder

PassNextquestion16h ago(Edited 16h ago)

I think if used correctly it could work well

jambola12h ago

cool idea
cool idea for horror games especially
the way it's explained here sounds like it could never be forced hopefully, so that's ok with me

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