Embracer is closing Alone in the Dark studio Pieces Interactive

Embracer Group is closing Pieces Interactive, the studio behind its recent Alone in the Dark reboot.In an image published on its website, the studio wrote: “Pieces Interactive 2007-2024. Thanks for playing with us.”The image was accompanied by a short history of the Skövde, Sweden-based studio.“Pieces Interactive released over ten titles on PC, Console and Mobile since 2007, both our own concepts such as Puzzlegeddon, Fret Nice, Leviathan Warships, Robo Surf and Kill to Collect, as well as work for hire titles such as Magicka 2 and several DLCs for Magicka,” it said.“Our client list includes Paradox Interactive, Koei Tecmo, Arrowhead Game Studios, Koch Media and RaceRoom Entertainment.“In 2017, Pieces Interactive were acquired by Embracer Group after working with the expansion for Titan Quest, Titan Quest: Ragnarök and third expansion for Titan Quest, Titan Quest: Atlantis.“Our last release was the reimagening of Alone in the Dark.”pic.twitter.com/Ut7KqSh1tv— Pieces Interactive (@PiecesInt) June 17, 2024In an message on LinkedIn, Pieces Interactive character artist Gustav Pethrus also wrote: “Unfortunately Pieces Interactive is closing down, so I’m looking for new opportunities.”It’s unclear how many people were employed at Pieces Interactive, but the studio had a staff of 13 when it was acquired in August 2017.Embracer, which has closed a number of studios over the past year, said last month that Alone in the Dark had failed to meet its sales expectations following the game’s release in March.VGC’s Alone in the Dark review criticised the game for its design choices, saying it was “let down by annoying and repetitive puzzles, poor combat and frequent glitches”.After several years of rapid expansion through mergers and acquisitions, Embracer announced last May that a $2 billion deal had collapsed at the last minute, leading it to embark on a restructuring programme that resulted in almost 1,400 job cuts, studio closures, and the cancellation of tens of games.