Embracer CEO Lars Wingefors has shouldered the blame for the company’s recent wave of layoffs, studio closures, and game cancellations. This restructuring came amid a turbulent period in the video game industry, marked by high-profile mergers and acquisitions, including the involvement of Saudi publishing and esports company Savvy Games Group.
In response to criticism, Wingefors stated, “As a leader and an owner, sometimes you need to take the blame and be humble about mistakes.” He acknowledged that he deserves criticism but emphasized that his team and companies do not. “I could take a lot of that blame myself,” he said.
Despite the challenges, Wingefors remains confident in Embracer’s mission. “We are now enabling that by doing this [new] structure,” he explained.
Embracer recently announced a split into three distinct entities: Coffee Stain, Middle-Earth, and Asmodee, each focusing on different aspects of the company’s operations. Despite the recent shake-ups, Wingefors expressed optimism about the company’s leadership. “I still feel I have the trust from many or all of my key entrepreneurs and CEOs that have joined the group,” he said.
While acknowledging the difficulties, Wingefors stressed the need for adaptation. “We can’t make all the games we wanted to make three years ago, but we need to adapt to it,” he said. “We will still make games, we still have one of the biggest, if not the biggest, pipeline of games in the industry. And we have great plans over the coming years or decades.”
