The demise of Volition Games – the veteran studio behind iconic video game franchises like Descent, Red Faction, and Saints Row – surprised many following its official announcement.
After 30 years of crafting world-class entertainment, the company announced its closure in a heartfelt LinkedIn post.
The decision to shut down is part of a broader restructuring initiative by its parent company, Embracer Group, which has seen better days.
Originally founded as Parallax Software in 1993, Volition has a rich history punctuated by numerous ownership changes and acquisitions. It gained initial fame for its trailblazing action game Descent, one of the first titles to offer full, fast-paced three-dimensional movement. The studio was renamed Volition in 1996 and was acquired by THQ in 2000. It then survived THQ’s bankruptcy in 2012, landing under the Deep Silver label of Koch Media, which itself was swallowed by Embracer Group in 2018.
This rollercoaster of acquisitions and transformations didn’t stop the studio from establishing a reputation as a creative force in the industry, particularly with its Saints Row franchise – a series of over-the-top, open-world action games that might have started life as a GTA clone but later established its own identity.
Yet, despite its storied history and community-driven passion, the studio found itself navigating turbulent waters in the past few years. Following the lukewarm reception of their 2017 game Agents of Mayhem, Volition attempted a reboot of their popular Saints Row franchise, only to receive mixed reviews that struggled to crest the mid-60s on Metacritic. This decline in critical reception was cited by Embracer CEO Lars Wingefors as a personal disappointment, signaling a precarious future for Volition.
The tipping point, however, came when a $2 billion investment deal involving Embracer Group fell through earlier this year. Although the identity of the would-be investment partner wasn’t officially disclosed, it’s widely reported to have been Savvy Games Group, a company funded by the Saudi government. The failed deal left Embracer Group scrambling to tighten its belt, culminating in the announcement of a comprehensive restructuring plan that included closing studios and canceling projects.
Volition is hardly the first casualty of this restructuring. Mimimi Games also announced its forthcoming closure. But, the shutdown of a 30-year veteran like Volition underscores the ruthless economic realities of the gaming industry, even for studios with a longstanding history and a wealth of creative properties. Embracer Group, which also owns other prolific studios like Crystal Dynamics and Gearbox, had been on a buying spree in recent years, gobbling up its key assets and franchises. But despite owning lucrative properties like Tomb Raider, Deus Ex, and Borderlands, financial security in the ever-competitive video game industry remains elusive.
Though Embracer Group retains ownership of Volition’s key franchises, including Saints Row and Red Faction, the cost of Volition’s closure is far from trivial. The company has pledged to offer job assistance and support for the transition of its affected employees. And while it’s possible that some employees might find new roles within Gearbox or the other Embracer subsidiaries, the dissolution of a once-thriving creative team is a poignant loss for both the industry and its fans.
As fans and ex-employees take to social media to share their sorrow and memories, the legacy of Volition serves as an inspiration for aspiring developers and a stark reminder of the industry’s relentless nature. Its games will live on in the memories of those who played them, but the closing of its doors marks the end of an era, leaving the gaming world to ponder what could have been.
In the meantime, you can enjoy Volition Games’ “final” game with Saints Row going on sale and headed to PS Plus next month.
