Pieces Interactive, the developer behind the recent PS5 title Alone in the Dark, is no more. Embracer Group has seemingly shuttered the studio, just a few months after the game's launch back in March of this year.
Over on the developer's official website, it now features an image and statement on the homepage confirming its closure. Pieces Interactive existed from 2007 to 2024, and while its biggest single title probably was Alone in the Dark, it'll also be known for its contributions to the Magicka series, among others. "Thanks for playing with us," the image solemnly states.
While there are things to like about the new spin on Alone in the Dark, the game broadly failed to resonate with critics, and sales of the game were said to be low as well.
As reported by GamesIndustry last month, Embracer CEO Lars Wingefors said the reimagining of the horror classic "performed below management expectations", which is likely to be the main reasoning for shutting down the studio. "I believe Alone in the Dark was a quality product, and [the developers] went all in to deliver on that," he said. "It's very unfortunate to see that it didn't catch enough consumers out there willing to engage again in that IP and product. It's just a brutal truth. It was a big investment and, ultimately, we need to get those right." Embracer Group acquired Pieces Interactive in 2017.
It's another sad story in a very turbulent time for the industry. We wish all those affected the best.
[source piecesinteractive.se, via gamesindustry.biz]
Comments 25
Really sad to hear that. You could say Im part of the problem getting it on sale but Im enjoying the game obviously no Resident Evil 4 but decent. Maybe they should of launched at a better price point
That's a real shame. Alone in the Dark really clicked with me. I played through the game with one character and went straight onto a second play through with the other. That's not something I usually do.
unfortunately we are in the world of one poorly received game and your closed
I bought game on sale and I really enjoying it so far, What a horrible time to be a game dev , It's like all the stock holder are pointing gun at you and you could easily lose your job if your game doesn't sell millions of $
Ahhhh Fu*k this...
That does suck. I wonder if this will happen to other devs when other Embracer Group games fail to live up to sales figures.
This industry has incorporated the Chelsea mentality sadly.
Sadly the game couldn't compare to RE quality and was a bit underwhelming and lacking in budget. I wonder how things could've been different. It's always the negative confirmation that's closing these studios.
Invest very little in a game, because they're risk averse. Their tiny investment won't make much bank and then they're like "see, they're worthless and need to be closed".
Meanwhile the ones making the most bank are the ones with the most investment. No other publisher has the balls to employ the Rockstar method aka the most successful method, but I digress.
Sad to see another horror flop though. This in turn confirms their bias AGAIN that horror games aren't worth producing.
Oh Silent Hills... What could've been
Alone in the Dark (1992) is way older than Resident Evil (1996) so I don't understand that constant comparison.
However... Back to this remake or reboot or whatever you call it. Yes, it is sad, lots of people loose job, but on the other hand look at reviews. Lots of technical flaws on release. Isn't that sign people simply have enough of unfinished games on release??? Yes, there will always be idiots who buy day one or even pre-order in this dark ages of incompleteness. But lots of customers just wait, because they want something unbroken for their money.
This is fault on both sides.
Embracer shouldn't make resumes on basis of few months if they know product is broken.
Pieces simply shouldn't release broken game.
Although I’m yet to play Alone in the Dark I’m pretty disappointed by this. I liked the look of the game and fully intend on playing and enjoying it at some point. I hope they all find work and soon 🙏
If the problem was the IP not being popular enough (which after being dragged in the dirt it's not surprising) and the studio did a good job, why close them? You can put them to work on a more popular IP perhaps?
Alas... management. Their heads won't roll, so the studio will.
@djlardI "isn't that sign people simply have enough of unfinished games on release???"
Not when most games have serious issues at launch yet so many sell incredibly well. Had there been enough interest in the IP, it would have sold well.
"a quality product"
"and [the developers] went all in to deliver on that"
"it didn't catch enough consumers out there willing to engage again in that IP and product"
Surely the fault lies with the management who decided this IP and direction is what people wanted, NOT the dev team they have just closed.
The developers were left in Pieces.
I'm sorry.
This does my head in. You aren’t allowed to grow as a dev, everything has to be a mega hit or you’re dead. Even success stories end up with you dead, look at VV. Constant fake growth.
The first of many devs to fall.TOO MANY GAMES!
Embracer claims another one god I hate them and to think one of my all time favourite game series is now owned by this despicable company
It was an ok game. It had lots of tech issues but it had a good atmosphere for the most part and that story kept me interested
What’s wild is that I literally bought this day 1. I did my part, and the game still died. 😭
Good job, Embracer. Don't give the game a chance to find an audience. Just close the studio when the game fails to sell 8 million copies in it's first week. It's a shame because Pieces Interactive really made a pretty good game and I would have loved to see them get a chance to do a follow up.
And Embracer killed of another Developer yeah can't wait untill one entity owns everything. Thats why we need more independent studios I would even say smaller studios.
Phil or whatever CEO will be so upset about the closing of whatever studio and go on. Because now we even know quality won't save your studio only the biggest payouts.
Wild, but the game was trash I only played a few hours and gave up
That's really unfortunate and another L for Embracer. Small-mid studios needs to stay away from this shady company.
I'm not yet played the new Alone in the Dark. But i watched RagnarRox review and i thought the game looks pretty good despite it has some flaws and jankyness.
Sadly, we live in the era of no room for a bit of flaws and linearity. Either go big or go home, hence why the bloated unsustainable budget. Then there's lazy gaming journalist who compare any new horror games with RE just like they compare any action / RPG games with Dark Souls. If it doesn't look and play as good as RE, they automaticly gave it a bad score :/
I might be wrong, just guessing here, but I think the reason people avoided buying this game was because of embracer. Like I hear a lot of people are avoiding buying anything related to embracer.
High profile, high cost game does poorly and that’s the end. Another painful reminder how risky the modern day game industry is these days.
A real shame.
@Specky Fantastic analogy for what is happening right across the games industry.
Alone in the Dark was a really solid game with a disappointing finale. I wish it had worked out better for them.
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