Crystal dynamics has announced a third round of layoffs in 2023, impacting 30 employees “across various departments and projects.” The cuts were announced via a LinkedIn post, with the studio citing the need to “optimise the continued progress of [its] flagship Tomb Raider game” and future projects “as the realities of the industry continue to evolve.”
The latest reductions follow an unspecified number of layoffs in August, attributed to “evolving business conditions” and a need to ensure the “long-term health of [its] studio and core creative priorities in a continually shifting market.” Prior to that, 17 employees were laid off in March to “better align [its] current business and the studioS future success.”
Crystal Dynamics is currently developing a new Tomb Raider game, announced in 2022, which will be published by Amazon Games.
“Crystal deeply thanks all of those impacted for their unbelievable talent, hard work, and dedication, which helped shape the studio in so many ways,” the studio stated. “we are committed to offering our fullest resources and support during this transition.”
The layoffs at Crystal dynamics are part of a wider trend of restructuring within the gaming industry. The studio was also a co-developer on the now-cancelled *perfect Dark* reboot with The Initiative, a casualty of larger layoffs at Microsoft in July 2023 that affected divisions including King, ZeniMax, Raven Software, Turn 10, and Blizzard, and led to the cancellation of Rare’s *Everwild*.
In September 2023, 10 employees were laid off at Crystal Dynamics following restructuring at its parent company, Embracer Group.
