Replace (11/03/25): Unbelievable Pixel Citadel will shut on November 17. In a submit on LinkedIn, studio head and recreation director Gregg Road famous the closure date and stated “Whereas there’s nonetheless an opportunity we are able to safe funding after that date, it would rely upon how a lot of the staff stays. Whereas we would like to make our recreation, our first precedence is to assist our builders discover employment, whether or not that is at indie studio Unbelievable Pixel Citadel 2.0, or at most of the different nice (and hopefully secure) recreation and tech firms on the market.”
Road additionally talked about that LinkedIn was the perfect place to achieve the staff going ahead.
Authentic story: NetEase has severed ties with inside studio Unbelievable Pixel Citadel lower than two years after it was fashioned.
Unbelievable Pixel Citadel broke cowl in November 2023 to develop a brand new triple-A MMO codenamed ‘Ghost’ below the NetEase banner. Yesterday, nonetheless, studio head Greg Road defined Unbelievable Pixel Citadel’s time as an inside NetEase studio is coming to an finish.
Notably, he said your entire staff may very well be made redundant if it would not discover one other writer or investor quickly.
“NetEase Video games has been very gracious and supportive of in search of one other writer for our recreation. Nonetheless, within the present market atmosphere only a few offers are getting made for any recreation, not to mention one thing on the dimensions of an MMORPG,” stated Road in a submit on Linkedin.Â
“We’re doing every thing we are able to to discover a writer or investor. On the identical time, we’re encouraging our staff members to discover future alternatives and supporting them by the uncertainty.”
In an announcement despatched to Recreation Developer, NetEase stated it is working with Unbelievable Pixel to seek out companions that might assist the studio survive.
“We’re supporting Unbelievable Pixel Citadel in its efforts to seek out publishing and funding companions, because the studio shared earlier. We cherish and worth the arduous work, dedication, and creativity of each particular person and staff throughout all of our studios,” stated a NetEase spokesperson.
“Creating and investing in online game tasks is inherently an extended and sophisticated course of that requires ongoing analysis and adaptation. We proceed to refine our strategy with diligence and self-discipline, rigorously assessing each alternatives and dangers in content material improvement to information investments throughout our world portfolio.”
NetEase’s abroad commitments in query
Earlier this yr, NetEase stated it remained dedicated to supporting its abroad studios after Bloomberg reported the Marvel Rivals developer had laid off a whole bunch of workers throughout its world studio community and scrapped a number of tasks.
Bloomberg claimed NetEase was pulling again on worldwide investments to refocus on a smaller variety of evergreen, mass market tasks. In response, NetEase stated it “has not wavered in its world enlargement plans” however added that “organizational construction modifications geared toward bettering efficiency are a obligatory a part of our ongoing progress.”
Over the previous few weeks, nonetheless, NetEase has shuttered Austin-based inside studio T-Minus Zero Leisure and now jettisoned Unbelievable Pixel Citadel.Â
Recreation Developer requested NetEase whether or not the corporate stays as dedicated to its abroad studios because it claimed firstly of the yr. The corporate failed to deal with that particular question when offering the assertion shared above.
