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Matt Karch, the CEO of Saber Interactive, has made some scathing comments about the now-closed Saints Row studio Volition, after he worked with Embracer Group when Saber Interactive was temporarily acquired.

As part of an interview (paywalled) with Stephen Totilo of Game File, Karch is asked about closures and layoffs. While he states he can "sympathize with the concept of people losing their jobs", he pulls no punches when explaining why Volition was shut down in its entirety.

"The Saints Row team is gone. Why are they gone? They were so expensive for what they were. They didn't know what they were building. They didn't have any real direction. It couldn't last. And so, who's going to fund them for the next game after that disaster?"

He adds: "The days of throwing money at games other than maybe the GTAs of the world is over. It's over. This business needs to mature. If it doesn't, the whole business is in trouble. Unfortunately, that means layoffs." Based on the conversation between Totilo and Karch in the piece, the Saber CEO tries to keep development costs down by funding studios in lower-cost parts of the world instead of the USA.

From Illinois, USA, Volition was shuttered in August 2023, just a year after the PS5, PS4 reboot released to a lukewarm critical reception and disappointing sales. "Its story and characters can be hit and miss, but the experience is carried by fun gameplay and an endearingly dumb sense of humour. Despite the new faces, Saints Row is definitely still Saints Row — just bigger and probably better," we concluded upon its launch. Since then, Saber Interactive has split from the Embracer Group.

[source gamefile.news]