Crystal Dynamics Lays Off 17 Employees Amid Industry Struggles
Crystal Dynamics, the developer behind *Tomb Raider*, has announced the layoff of 17 employees. This move comes as part of the company’s effort to “better align our current business needs and the studio’s future success.” Despite the layoffs, Crystal Dynamics reassures fans that current projects will not be affected.
Founded in 1992, the studio has been known for successful franchises like *Tomb Raider*, *Gex*, and *Soul Reaver*. In recent years, it gained attention for the *Tomb Raider* trilogy and *Marvel’s Avengers*. The company was sold by Square Enix to the Embracer Group in 2022.
The layoffs account for less than 10% of the studio’s workforce, which numbers over 300. However, the impact on upcoming projects, such as *Perfect Dark* and the next *Tomb Raider* installment, remains unclear. *Perfect Dark* has faced challenges, with reports suggesting development issues since Crystal Dynamics joined the project in 2021.
This decision reflects broader trends in the game industry, where rising development costs and market shifts have led to job cuts. Embracer Group, the owner of Crystal Dynamics, has also planned further layoffs across its studios in 2025.
As the situation unfolds, it remains to be seen how these layoffs will affect the future of Crystal Dynamics and its ongoing projects.
