Home BusinessCrystal Dynamics Announces New Round of Layoffs, Remains Committed to Next Tomb Raider

Crystal Dynamics Announces New Round of Layoffs, Remains Committed to Next Tomb Raider

by Bruno Pferd

Key Takeaways

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  • Crystal Dynamics is undergoing another round of layoffs, affecting 30 employees in early November 2025.
  • This is a part of a broader restructuring at Microsoft and its parent company Embracer, which led to the cancellation of Perfect Dark, a game Crystal Dynamics was helping to develop.
  • The studio acknowledged the difficult decisions and thanked those leaving for their contributions to the studios development.
  • Despite the changes, the next Tomb Raider game is still in development.

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Crystal Dynamics Announces November Layoffs Affecting 30 Employees Amidst Microsoft Restructuring and Perfect Dark Cancellation

After a period of restructuring since September 2023, Crystal Dynamics has announced another round of layoffs, impacting 30 employees. The studio’s LinkedIn page confirmed the layoffs, which are scheduled for early November 2025. This follows previous staff reductions in March 2024, when seventeen employees were let go. These changes follow Microsoft’s cancellation of Perfect Dark, which Crystal Dynamics was helping to develop, amid broader restructuring at its parent company, Embracer. In a statement, Crystal Dynamics acknowledged the difficult decisions: “We’ve had to make some tough calls today at Crystal Dynamics. We’re reshuffling our studios and teams, which means we’re saying goodbye to nearly thirty folks from different departments and projects. This is all part of getting ready for what’s next in gaming. We want to say a big thanks to everyone leaving—your talent and hard work have shaped the studio in so many ways. We’re here to support you through this.” The studio also reassured fans that the next Tomb Raider game remains in development, adding, “It’s been a rough few months with these changes, but we’re grateful for everyone’s support as we keep moving forward.”

In Case You Missed It

In our continuing journey through the ever-evolving world of tech and creativity, let’s start with Bruno Pferd’s insightful article from last month, “Embracer Bet on AI as Creative Ally, Yet Upholds Human Control” Embracer Bet on AI as Creative Ally, Yet Upholds Human Control. Bruno explores Embracer Group’s innovative use of artificial intelligence to boost productivity in game development without losing the human touch that makes our favorite games so engaging. Phil Rogers, the new CEO, sees AI not as a replacement but as a ‘co-pilot’ for animators, designers, and engineers. Moving on, Xbox recently surprised us with a significant price hike for Game Pass Ultimate in the US. Jonathan Dubinski’s latest post from October 4th, **”Xbox Increases Game Pass Price, Former FTC President Had Previously Warned”** Xbox Increases Game Pass Price, Former FTC President Had Previously Warned, digs into the controversy surrounding this decision and its connections to Microsoft’s Activision Blizzard acquisition. Lastly, Carlos Mendoza’s recent piece, “New Development in Subnautica 2 Lawsuit Puts Krafton in a Delicate Position” New Development in Subnautica 2 Lawsuit Puts Krafton in a Delicate Position, published on September 22nd, keeps us up-to-date with the latest twists in the legal battle between Unknown Worlds’ founders and publisher Krafton over Subnautica 2’s delayed launch. It’s an exciting time in gaming, folks!

Crystal Dynamics Announces New Round of Layoffs, Remains Committed to Next Tomb Raider large 6

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