In an unanticipated move, Volition, the studio behind the iconic Saints Row and Red Faction series, has been shut down “effective immediately” as part of a restructuring program by its parent company, Embracer Group.
For 30 years, Volition has been a cornerstone in the realm of video games. The studio carved a unique niche for itself with the Saints Row franchise, a series that emerged as a legitimate competitor to Grand Theft Auto. Pioneering an approach that allowed players to build and evolve their own criminal empires, the series took a quirkier turn in its fourth installment by transforming the protagonist into a super-powered President battling aliens.
Sadly, the reboot of Saints Row, released in 2022, failed to resonate with players. Despite pre-release expectations that painted a rosy outlook, the reboot was plagued with bugs and an inconsistent tone, disappointing fans and critics alike. According to Embracer Group, the reboot did not yield the expected return on investment, although anyone still interested in playing it can find it as one of the free games on PlayStation Plus this September.
The closure’s timing is particularly poignant, given that Volition staff had taken to Twitter to report mass layoffs, which was later confirmed through the studio’s LinkedIn profile. Founded in 1993 as part of Parallax Software by Mike Kulas and Matt Toschlog, Volition had also dabbled in other less-known but fondly remembered classics like Summoner for the PlayStation 2.
In a heartfelt message, the studio thanked its fans and vowed to assist the impacted team members during this transition. “We’ve been driven by a passion for our community and always worked to deliver joy, surprise, and delight,” read the official statement.
The hashtag #VolitionJobs has been trending to help laid-off employees find new work, but the sense of loss in the gaming community is palpable. The closure not only marks the end of an era for Saints Row and Red Faction but leaves questions about the future of these intellectual properties. Currently, there is no word on whether Embracer Group plans to continue these franchises under different developers.
While seemingly less severe, it appears that the Embracer Group has also cut jobs at Gearbox Publishing. According to LinkedIn profiles, people who used to work at Gearbox Publishing have announced they have been laid off and are looking for work. “No one saw it coming, but my contract and those of my colleagues who started in June had to be terminated,” said Allan Jacquemart, a former translator at Gearbox Publishing.
While fans might still harbour hopes for a return of Saints Row or even a nostalgic revisiting of Red Faction, the immediate future appears uncertain. What is clear, however, is the indelible impact that Volition has had on gaming, leaving a legacy that is both creative and endearing. Our thoughts are with everyone affected by this closure.
