Volition, the studio behind game franchises like Red Faction and Saints Row, is closing its doors. The announcement came via the company's LinkedIn account, coincidentally just as Starfield reviews were going live. According to the statement, the shutdown is part of a broader restructuring strategy by the parent company, Embracer Group.
A letter to our community. pic.twitter.com/vtFM7szLbN
— Volition (@DSVolition) September 1, 2023
Embracer Group had signaled this change in direction last June, following the collapse of a 2 billion USD investment deal, reported to involve Savvy Games Group, part of Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund. The failed deal set off a series of changes, including halted game development, budget cuts, and the shuttering or sale of studios, with Volition being the first public casualty.
Founded in 1993 as Parallax Software, the studio rebranded to Volition in 1996 and was responsible for multiple game franchises, including Summoner and Saints Row. It changed hands twice, first being acquired by THQ in 2000 and later sold to Deep Silver in 2017 after THQ's bankruptcy. Its 2022 reboot of Saints Row received lukewarm reviews.
In its farewell statement, Volition expressed gratitude towards its fan base and pledged to assist affected employees in their job search, saying, "You will always be in our hearts."
Source: Twitter/X