Roman GłogulskiRecently, a topic appeared on Reddit that has raised concerns among gamers. They are wondering what has caused the silence from Piranha Bytes over the past two months. The developers had regular contact with their community until the end of November 2023, but since then, they have not been releasing any new materials, and even their website has stopped functioning. This raises concerns not only about the future of the studio but also about their latest project, Elex 3.
The gathered facts cannot be ignored by the players. The last video published on Piranha Bytes’ official YouTube channel dates back to November 27th of last year. This is worrisome considering that the studio regularly shared videos informing about their activities and new projects. Since the beginning of the year, their website has also been non-operational. Upon entering the site, you can only see Piranha Bytes’ logo and the studio’s address.
One of the most worrisome findings is a hidden game with the codename “Wiki 6,” which is likely Elex 3. It has been removed from the database of funded projects by the German government agency responsible for granting subsidies to the gaming industry.
Another issue that worries players is the fact that Piranha Bytes is part of Embracer Group, which is currently undergoing restructuring due to financial problems. One of the solutions being considered is laying off a large number of employees and closing some studios, like Volition, the creators of the Saints Row series. However, there is no evidence to suggest that Piranha Bytes will suffer the same fate.
There is a theory that Piranha Bytes’ website has been taken down because they are working on a new version. The developers might be preparing to announce Elex 3 and are therefore refreshing their website, which has not been updated in several years.
What happened to the funding for Wiki 6? On the website of the German agency, the project has been removed, indicating that the subsidy funding has already ended. Piranha Bytes received 3 million euros, which were most likely already disbursed. It should also be noted that Germany has reduced the pool of funds for supporting games from 70 million euros to 48.7 million euros in 2024.
FAQ
What are gamers concerned about?
Gamers are concerned about the future of Piranha Bytes studio and their latest project, Elex 3. The silence and lack of updates from the developers have caused worry and speculation.
Has Piranha Bytes ceased its operations?
There is no information indicating that Piranha Bytes has ceased its operations. The current silence may be due to various factors, such as restructuring within the Embracer Group.
Definitions
Piranha Bytes
Piranha Bytes is a German video game developer known for titles such as Gothic and Risen.
Elex 3
Elex 3 is the potential next project of Piranha Bytes, which is a continuation of the popular Elex game series.
Embracer Group
Embracer Group is a Swedish holding company engaged in the computer gaming industry. It owns many development studios, including Piranha Bytes.
Sources:
Reddit: www.reddit.com
YouTube: www.youtube.com
Piranha Bytes: www.piranha-bytes.com
Embracer Group: www.embracer.com
German Federal Agency for Games: www.bundesregierung.de
