studio closure Archives

AppWizard

November 26, 2025

Saturnalia creators Santa Ragione will “wind down operations” after Valve ban horror game Horses from Steam

Santa Ragione, the developers of Saturnalia and Wheels of Aurelia, may close their studio following Valve's refusal to list their upcoming horror game, Horses, on Steam. The rejection was based on an unfinished build submitted in 2023, deemed inappropriate due to its themes and imagery, specifically concerning content that could be interpreted as depicting sexual conduct involving a minor. Horses, which combines surreal body horror with silent cinema techniques, is set to launch on December 2nd on Epic, GOG, the Humble Store, and Itch. The developers initially submitted a rough version of Horses for Steam approval about two years ago, which was rejected after an automated review in June 2023. They have sought clarification from Valve and expressed willingness to modify any unsuitable elements but have not received a response. Santa Ragione clarified that all characters in Horses are over 20 years old and that while the game includes sexual elements, the intent is to provoke discussion rather than arousal. Having invested around 0,000 into Horses, Santa Ragione faces financial difficulties, as the anticipated funding from sales of Saturnalia did not materialize. They have raised remaining funds through private contributions, making them reliant on the success of Horses. The ban on Horses is seen as part of a broader trend of delisting adult content from platforms, but Santa Ragione argues that their game has been unjustly censored compared to other media platforms.

AppWizard

November 26, 2025

Hytale is “coming together at last” according to dev, who says 60 playtesters have just given the Minecraft-inspired game their stamp of approval: “Long way to go but momentum is key”

Hytale has returned to its original creators at Hypixel after a period of cancellation and studio closure. CEO Simon Collins-Laflamme reported positive feedback from a recent playtest involving over 60 participants, which included valuable bug reports. The team is planning large-scale server tests and PvP events. Hypixel will also release a blog post featuring gameplay footage and screenshots from playtesters. The transition back to Hypixel is seen as a rescue mission for the game, with a commitment to a decade of support and a focus on the original vision. An Early Access date is anticipated.

AppWizard

November 10, 2025

Bad Brain is the latest NetEase studio to close

Sean Crooks, head of Bad Brain Game Studios, announced that the Canadian game development company will cease operations on November 17th due to an unsuccessful search for a new publishing partner after NetEase discontinued its support. The intellectual property associated with the project is available for acquisition, and both Crooks and NetEase are open to discussions with potential publishers or studios interested in continuing development. Bad Brain plans to release a sizzle reel to showcase the project and assist the team during the transition. Crooks encouraged interested parties to reach out for top-tier talent from the studio.

AppWizard

October 8, 2025

Funcom closes The Outsiders

Norwegian game developer Funcom has decided to close its subsidiary, The Outsiders. The announcement was made by the studio's founder, David Goldfarb, who reflected on the studio's ten-year journey and the impact of recent layoffs. He expressed gratitude for the team's resilience, particularly in the creation of Metal Hellsinger after the cancellation of Darkborn. Goldfarb remains optimistic about the future and indicated a desire to continue in some new form. He invited the community to offer support in various ways, such as business leads or guidance, as the team navigates this transition.

AppWizard

June 25, 2025

Minecraft Competitor Hytale Shuts Down After a Decade of Development

Hypixel Studios has ceased development on its sandbox game, Hytale, due to insufficient financial support and challenges in aligning its vision with the evolving sandbox gaming landscape. The studio, founded in 2016 and acquired by Riot Games in 2020, faced difficulties despite a major overhaul of the game engine. Riot Games assisted in seeking additional investors but ultimately decided to halt the project, providing support to the team during the transition. The existing Hypixel Minecraft server will continue to operate independently. The announcement comes amid significant layoffs in the gaming industry, with over 10,500 jobs lost in 2023 and projections of an additional 14,600 in 2024.

AppWizard

November 26, 2024

Humanoid Origin is shutting down

Canadian game developer Humanoid Origin has announced its decision to cease operations due to an inability to secure sufficient funding. Founded in 2021 by Casey Hudson, the studio aimed to create a new science-fiction universe but faced challenges from the broader economic landscape. The team expressed sorrow over their unfinished vision and emphasized their commitment to supporting employees in their transition to new employment. They acknowledged the remarkable achievements of their team and the culture of fun and creativity fostered during their time together.

AppWizard

October 22, 2024

Report: Netflix closes down triple-A Blue studio

Netflix has decided to close its Blue studio, which was developing a high-budget, multi-device triple-A game in Southern California. The studio attracted notable industry veterans, including Chacko Sonny, Joseph Staten, and Rafael Grassetti, who are no longer with the company. Netflix's gaming efforts are now primarily focused on mobile platforms, aiming to expand its library with existing titles and original games.

AppWizard

September 19, 2024

Behaviour closes down Midwinter as it cancels Project T

Behaviour Interactive has announced the closure of Midwinter Entertainment, a studio it acquired in 2022, following the cancellation of Project T, a spin-off of Dead by Daylight. The decision was based on a risk assessment that deemed Project T unviable. Behaviour has offered relocation to its Canadian studios for Midwinter employees and provided a severance package for those who do not relocate. Midwinter Entertainment was founded in 2016 by veterans from 343 Industries and initially focused on the game Scavengers, which was discontinued three years later.

AppWizard

September 6, 2024

Tango founder Mikami “surprised” by studio closure

Shinji Mikami, founder of Tango Gameworks, was surprised by Microsoft's decision to close the studio, believing it would be secure as long as it produced Hi-Fi Rush titles. He left Tango Gameworks partly due to this belief. Following the studio's closure, Krafton acquired Tango Gameworks and the Hi-Fi Rush intellectual property, which Mikami viewed positively. He emphasized that making a good game is crucial for a studio's survival, rather than just creating a popular one. Mikami departed from Tango Gameworks in February 2023.

AppWizard

August 22, 2024

Journey to the Savage Planet developer says Google only wanted ‘monstrous’ games with major licenses for Stadia: ‘They were very strange’

Alex Hutchinson, co-founder and creative director of Raccoon Logic, discussed the challenges faced by Google's gaming platform Stadia, which collapsed three years after its launch due to a lack of substantial content and a misunderstanding of the gaming landscape. His studio, Typhoon Studios, was acquired by Google in December 2019 and was shut down shortly after the launch of their game, Journey to the Savage Planet, in February 2021. The closure coincided with the Covid-19 pandemic, leading to a difficult experience for the team. Hutchinson noted that Google’s insistence on creating games exclusively for cloud play complicated matters. Despite these challenges, he mentioned that the only positive outcome was financial support, which has influenced Raccoon Logic's upcoming sequel, Revenge of the Savage Planet, set to release in 2025. The sequel will explore themes of capitalism and corporatocracy, with a narrative involving a mid-tier corporation that is abandoned during a space exploration mission.