Pieces Interactive, the studio responsible for the 2024 remake of Alone in the Dark, has been shut down by Embracer Group. The closure follows the game’s failure to meet sales expectations, despite some positive user reception. A statement posted on the studio’s website, featuring a graphic with its logo and the text “thanks for playing with us,” along with the years 2007-2024, announced the closure. The statement also lists some of the games Pieces worked on, including its own titles and those it provided support for.
The statement highlighted the studio’s acquisition by Embracer Group in 2017, following their work on the expansion for Titan Quest, Titan Quest: Ragnarök, and the third expansion for Titan Quest, Titan Quest: Atlantis. It concluded with a simple statement: “Our last release was the reimagening [sic] of Alone in the Dark.”
The Alone in the Dark remake, starring Jodie Comer and David Harbour, was released in March 2024. Embracer’s Q4 financials, released in May, revealed that sales decreased in the PC and console games segment due to the “softer-than-expected performance” of Alone in the Dark and Outcast: A New Beginning. While acknowledging positive user reception, the company noted that the games received mixed reviews and ultimately performed below management expectations.
In April, Pieces workers reported layoffs. Our review of Alone in the Dark found a mixed experience overall but acknowledged its silly charm as a tribute to the 1992 original. It demonstrated Pieces’ understanding of traditional horror game design.
This closure is the latest in a series of setbacks for Embracer Group. After a period of aggressive acquisitions at the start of the decade, the company has faced layoffs and studio shutdowns, including those of Saints Row developer Volition and Free Radical, following the collapse of a reported $2 billion deal with Saudi Arabia’s Savvy Group. Subsequent major moves involved divesting Saber Interactive and Gearbox Software, before announcing plans to split into three companies: Asmodee, Coffee Stain & Friends, and Middle-earth Enterprises & Friends. Embracer CEO Lars Wingefors indicated that the company had completed its restructuring efforts following this announcement.
The closure of Pieces Interactive underscores the challenges facing the gaming industry, particularly in the context of evolving market trends and changing consumer preferences. It also highlights the financial pressures faced by companies like Embracer Group, as they navigate a complex and dynamic landscape.
