Embracer Group Shuts Down Pieces Interactive
Embracer Group has made the decision to shut down Pieces Interactive, the developer behind the recent Alone in the Dark reimagining. This closure is just the latest in a series of studio shutdowns by the troubled company in the past 10 months.
Pieces Interactive’s Closure
Upon visiting Pieces Interactive’s website, visitors are now greeted with a graphic that reads “2007-2024 Thanks For Playing With Us,” along with a brief description of the studio’s history.
According to the website, Pieces Interactive has released over ten titles across PC, Console, and Mobile platforms since 2007. These titles include original concepts like Puzzlegeddon, Fret Nice, Leviathan Warships, Robo Surf, and Kill to Collect, as well as work for hire projects such as Magicka 2 and various DLCs for Magicka. The studio has worked with clients like Paradox Interactive, Koei Tecmo, Arrowhead Game Studios, Koch Media, and RaceRoom Entertainment.
In 2017, Embracer Group acquired Pieces Interactive after collaborating on expansions for Titan Quest. Their most recent release was the reimagining of Alone in the Dark.
Alone in the Dark Reimagining
Alone in the Dark, which launched on March 20, has garnered mixed reviews, currently holding a score of 63 on Metacritic. The game features performances from actors Jodie Comer and David Harbour, who provided both their voices and likenesses for the third-person reimagining of the 1992 survival horror classic.
Despite the game’s release, Pieces Interactive has now been closed down by Embracer Group.
Embracer Group Restructuring
Embracer Group has undergone significant restructuring efforts following the collapse of a $2 billion deal with the Saudi Arabia-backed Savvy Games Group in 2023. This restructuring has led to a reduction in headcount across Embracer’s many studios, with over 1,000 employees being laid off, including those at Eidos-Montreal.
In addition to workforce reductions, Embracer has sold off studios such as Saber Interactive and Gearbox Entertainment, and closed others including Free Radical Design and Volition Games. The company has recently split itself into three separate entities, each containing a portion of its studios.