The studio Piranha Bytes seems to be facing closure. The German role-playing game developer has built an international reputation with games like Gothic or Risen. Therefore, the reports about the likely end of the studio after more than 25 years are being discussed internationally. Along with a lot of nostalgia, there is also disappointment.
Where do the reports about the studio’s closure come from? The German gaming magazine GameStar has learned from reliable sources that Piranha Bytes is likely facing an end. This is indicated in an article from January 17.
The website is shut down, no new videos have come out since November 27 (via youtube), and sources report layoffs of employees.
Yesterday, we at MeinMMO looked into the backgrounds of the studio’s problems, which apparently are mainly rooted in the buying spree and subsequent hangover of the publishing group “Embracer Group”.
Piranha Bytes is particularly known for the role-playing series Gothic:
“Doing the Same Thing for Too Long”
This is how the end of the studio is being discussed: In the gaming section of reddit, the end of Piranha Bytes is one of the biggest topics on January 17 and 18. More than 150 comments have already been received, many people have a sober view of the German studio and clearly enumerate its failures and missed opportunities:
No one on reddit is really surprised by the closure. The studio “did the same thing for too long” and has slipped from being the “leader of the pack” to the end of the food chain. The author of the top comment says he has played all the games, and Elex 2 felt like it was created a decade ago.
Another user states: The studio’s own stubbornness has been its downfall. The head of the studio, Björn Pankratz, once said he would rather close the studio than expand the staff or switch engines.
A third user makes it clear: Piranha Bytes developed AA open-world role-playing games with a small team. They had around 33 people in 2021. The Witcher 1 in 2007 had much more staff than Elex 1 in 2017 – thus, comparing the role-playing game from Piranha Bytes with major competitors is unfair.
The user “GoldenJoel” raves: Gothic was a technical marvel overshadowed by Morrowind, which came out a year later. No one created such vibrant 3D worlds as Gothic back then.
There is also a “What if?” post: A user says the quality of Gothic took a steep rise in the first 2 games, transitioning from a solid niche game to a masterpiece. However, Gothic 3 had to be released too early because the publisher Jowood needed money – but through the fan patches, it became clear that Gothic 3 had the potential to catch up with the genre leader The Elder Scrolls.
The user concludes: Piranha Bytes had the chance to become the German CD Projekt Red (Witcher), but they messed it up in the end. Everything after Gothic 3 has only lived off the nostalgia of the people. No title from the studio has come close to Gothic.
Lots of Love from German Players
How is this being discussed in Germany? In the comments at GameStar, Piranha Bytes is seen a bit softer and more tender:
- “A significant part of German video game history is leaving the stage.”
- “It’s really a shame. Gothic 1-3 and Risen 1-2 are all among my top 10 favorite games.”
Typically German, they also discuss business decisions here. Whether it would have been better to remain independent. Whether the studio would have survived if it had evolved as many critics kept demanding.
For many players from Germany, a piece of youth and childhood memories is surely dying here.
This might be a glimmer of hope for fans of Gothic:
Gothic took away my youth – now it’s coming as an MMO and that will give me the rest
