Embracer's reign of terror continues this week with word that Piranha Bytes has been shut down. Founded in 1997, Piranha Bytes has created and developed fantasy RPG games such as Gothic and Risen. Lately, they were the studio behind the two sci-fi RPG Elex titles.
The German media outlet GameStar reports that Piranha Bytes was shuttered at the end of June. Piranha Bytes joins several other notable studio closures made by Embracer. Pieces Interactive was also closed by Embracer in June, Free Radical Design in December 2023, and Saints Row developer Volition in August 2023. Embracer also sold off Gearbox Software and Saber Interactive. Several other studios under the Embracer umbrella have been closed, hit with layoffs, or had projects outright cancelled.
Earlier this year the writing appeared on the wall for Piranha Bytes. The studio was reportedly looking around for a new partner on its next project.
A couple of former Piranha Bytes developers, Björn Pankratz and Jennifer Pankratz, formed a new indie studio named Pithead Studio. Björn had joined Piranha Bytes in 1999 while Jennifer seems to have been at the studio since 2009.
As for the fate of the Gothic remake, that project is still in development. The remake is being handled by Alkimia Interactive and will be published by THQ Nordic.
