During the recent Embracer Group annual general meeting, CEO Lars Wingefors discussed the company’s ongoing restructuring efforts, which included the closure of studios like Volition and Campfire Cabal, as well as some layoffs in other Group studios such as Crystal Dynamics. Despite the challenges, Wingefors reassured investors of the company’s commitment to its goals and mentioned the possibility of exploring opportunities for affected workers outside of Embracer Group.
Divestments were also a topic of discussion, with Wingefors acknowledging interest from various parties in Embracer’s assets, particularly the larger ones. Rumors of a potential sale of Gearbox Software were mentioned, with Wingefors highlighting the competitive market and the management of processes related to higher-value assets.
The conversation also touched on the new Epic First Run program by Epic Games, allowing publishers to make their games exclusive to the Epic Games Store for six months with waived fees. Wingefors welcomed this development as a positive step in competition with Steam, emphasizing the importance of providing a better consumer experience. He expressed a desire to reduce platform fees, which currently exceed the company’s annual game development expenses, acknowledging the impact on profit margins and the importance of considering consumer preferences when choosing a platform.
In closing, Wingefors embraced healthy competition in the gaming industry but hinted at further sacrifices within Embracer Group, including the closure of more studios and additional layoffs.
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