Crysis 4 ‘On Hold’ as Developer Crytek Announces Layoffs Affecting Up to 60 Staff

Crytek, the renowned developer behind the iconic Crysis series, has announced a significant round of layoffs, impacting 60 of its 400 employees. This decision comes as the company grapples with the need to maintain financial sustainability amidst challenging market conditions. In a tweet, Crytek revealed that despite the growth of their game Hunt: Showdown, the company could no longer "continue as before and remain financially sustainable." This led to the difficult decision to lay off 15% of its workforce, affecting both development teams and shared services across the organization.

Crytek founder Avni Yerli elaborated on the situation in a statement, acknowledging the industry's tough dynamics that have affected many companies. "It pains me greatly to share today that we must lay off an estimated 15% of our around 400 employees," Yerli stated, emphasizing the unavoidable nature of these layoffs despite the company's efforts to shift resources and cut costs. Crytek had previously paused development on Crysis 4 in late 2024, redirecting staff to work on Hunt: Showdown 1896. Despite these efforts, the layoffs were deemed "inevitable" to ensure the company's future stability.

Crytek is committed to supporting the affected employees by offering severance packages and career assistance services. The company remains optimistic about its future, particularly with the continued growth and expansion of Hunt: Showdown 1896. Yerli reaffirmed their dedication to this game, stating, "We will continue to expand and evolve Hunt: Showdown 1896 with great content and drive our strategy for our engine CRYENGINE."

Last year, it surfaced that Crytek had been working on a battle royale-inspired Crysis project, codenamed Crysis Next. Early gameplay footage of this project, which featured third-person shooting in a basic arena with Crysis’ signature abilities and sound effects, was leaked on YouTube. However, Crysis Next was ultimately canceled in favor of Crysis 4, which was officially announced in January 2022.

The Crysis franchise is celebrated for its groundbreaking first-person sci-fi shooter experience, known for stunning visuals, innovative nanosuit powers, and open-ended gameplay. The original Crysis, released in 2007, became a benchmark for PC performance, famously spawning the catchphrase, "But can it run Crysis?" This phrase became a staple in tech communities to gauge a computer's capabilities. The last mainline entry, Crysis 3, was released in February 2013. While Crytek has released remasters of the original games in recent years, fans have been eagerly awaiting news on Crysis 4 since its announcement and teaser three years ago.