Tomb Raider developer Crystal Dynamics has laid off just under 30 staff members as part of a studio restructuring. The move is aimed at optimizing development on the next Tomb Raider game in partnership with Amazon. This marks at least the fourth round of layoffs at the studio in the past two years.
Layoff Details
Crystal Dynamics shared the news via a LinkedIn post, describing the decision as 'difficult but necessary' to reorganize teams and restructure for the studio's next generation. The layoffs affected employees across various departments and projects, with the company parting ways with just under 30 team members. 'Today we've made the difficult but necessary decision to reorganize Crystal Dynamics' studios and teams,' the post stated. 'As a result, we've parted ways with just under 30 team members across various departments and projects as we restructure the company and business for our next generation.'
The studio emphasized support for those impacted, thanking them for their 'incredible talent, hard work, and dedication' and committing resources to aid their transition. Crystal Dynamics also addressed players directly: 'To our players - as the realities of the industry continue to evolve, we've made these painful choices as a way to optimise the continued development of our flagship Tomb Raider game, as well as shaping the rest of the studio to make new games for the future.'
Context and Background
This latest wave follows previous layoffs, including 17 staff members in March and additional cuts in August. Amazon Games executive Christoph Hartmann noted in August of the previous year that development on the upcoming Tomb Raider title was 'going well.' The next game, a single-player experience built with Unreal Engine 5, is being co-developed with Amazon, though details remain limited. Rumors suggest it may feature an open world, but no official confirmation exists. The announcement has raised concerns among fans due to the ongoing lack of updates on the project.