Crystal Dynamics announces layoffs, but says Tomb Raider will not be impacted

Crystal Dynamics, the studio behind the recent Tomb Raider games, announced an unspecified number of layoffs today. In a on LinkedIn, the game developer kept the size of the cuts vague, only stating that “a number of our talented colleagues” would be impacted. In what’s becoming an all-too-familiar refrain, the company cited “evolving business conditions” as the reason for the layoffs.

“This decision was not made lightly,” the post reads. “It was necessary, however, to ensure the long-term health of our studio and core creative priorities in a continually shifting market.”

Crystal Dynamics was by Embracer Group in a 2022 buying spree by the Swedish game company. Embracer still owns the studio, but was forced to do some of its own in 2023 followed by a last year. Crystal Dynamics is still working on a new Tomb Raider game, which the company said will not be affected by the layoffs. However, the studio had been tapped to help The Initiative with its Perfect Dark reboot. That project was and The Initiative shut down in a separate wave of massive cuts at Microsoft earlier this year. It’s unclear whether that cancelation was a reason for today’s cuts.