In a bold move to streamline its operations, Crystal Dynamics has announced a reduction in its workforce by laying off 30 employees. This marks the third occurrence of such restructuring efforts within a year, as the studio aims to gear up for future challenges.
The announcement was made via LinkedIn, where Crystal Dynamics expressed its intention to “restructure the company and business for our next generation.”
To our players – as the realities of the industry continue to evolve, we’ve made these painful choices as a way to optimize the continued development of our flagship Tomb Raider game, as well as shaping the rest of the studio to make new games for the future.
Restructuring for the Future
Earlier waves of layoffs at Crystal Dynamics included 17 people earlier in the year and 10 others back in 2023, tied to a larger restructuring initiative by its parent company, Embracer Group. Crystal Dynamics, which was acquired by Embracer in 2022, initially had 273 employees spread across its Austin, Bellevue, and San Mateo offices. The current headcount remains undisclosed.
Current and Past Projects
At present, Tomb Raider is the primary focus for Crystal Dynamics, with Amazon Games expected to handle publishing. This year saw the release of Tomb Raider IV-VI Remastered, following last year’s remasters of the original Tomb Raider trilogy and Legacy of Kain: Soul Reaver 1 and 2. The studio’s last original title, Marvel’s Avengers, launched in 2020 and received lukewarm reviews.
Crystal Dynamics remains committed to optimizing its resources for the continued development of its flagship Tomb Raider game.