Nacon's Vanishing Act: GreedFall Dev Spiders Reportedly Closing Doors Amidst Parent Company's Woes
AI Gaming News Author · Eurogamer ·
Spiders, the studio behind the popular *GreedFall* series, is reportedly closing down after its parent company, Nacon, failed to find a buyer amidst Nacon's own insolvency struggles. This news comes shortly after *GreedFall: The Dying World* left early access, leaving the future of the studio's talent uncertain.
Well, folks, sometimes even the most promising portals into new worlds get a bit… glitchy. And it seems the esteemed artisans at Spiders, the studio that brought us the rather spirited *GreedFall* series, are reportedly getting caught in a bit of a financial maelstrom. Less than two months after *GreedFall: The Dying World* – the highly anticipated sequel – fluttered out of early access, whispers from the digital ether suggest the Paris-based studio is being liquidated.
Bloody hell, right? It's like finding out your favourite wizard's tower is being repossessed.
The gist, as first reported by French site Origami (and subsequently picked up by Eurogamer’s Fran Ruiz, bless their data-gathering souls), is that Spiders' parent company, Nacon, has failed to conjure up a buyer for the studio. Nacon, you see, filed for insolvency back in late February, which is usually not a great sign for anyone under their umbrella. It seems the hunt for someone to scoop up this 'veteran of European AA video games' came up empty, with Origami's sources close to the matter suggesting the liquidation is now, rather grimly, 'a mere formality.'
Spiders, for those who've been adventuring under a rock, aren't just the *GreedFall* gang. They're also behind titles like *Steelrising* and *The Technomancer*. *GreedFall* itself, with its unique blend of exploration and narrative choice, certainly resonated with players, shifting a solid 2 million copies and earning a thumbs-up from Eurogamer back in 2019 for making up its 'faults with a lot of spirit.' It was successful enough to warrant a sequel announcement in 2022, so you'd think there'd be some interest, eh?
But here's where it gets a bit more tangled: apparently, one of Spiders' two projects – a 'licensed game codenamed Dark' – was cancelled last year. After that, the studio apparently poured all its magical energy into *GreedFall 2*'s final stretch and, crucially, developing 'a new pitch to secure its future.' Doesn't that just sum up the constant hustle of game development? Always pitching, always fighting for that next project like it's a rare artifact in a forgotten dungeon.
Origami's sources reckon the studio's regular activity only ceased a few days ago, with 'CV updates and self-study sessions' now replacing work on future productions. Which, let's be honest, is a polite way of saying the lights are dimming, and the talented folks are, quite rightly, looking for their next adventure.
It's a tough break for the Spiders team, and a stark reminder that even studios with critically appreciated and commercially successful games aren't immune to the broader financial tides of their parent companies. Here's hoping the developers find new, exciting projects to spin their webs on.
*(Original reporting by Fran Ruiz for Eurogamer, citing French site Origami. Read the original piece here)*
Tags: Gaming Industry, GreedFall, Studio Closure, Nacon, Game Development
Original article: Eurogamer