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.