Recently, Prytania Media’s Possibility Space has become the second studio owned by the company to close. This closure follows Crop Circle Games’ shut down in March. Both studios were founded by Jeff Strain, a prominent figure in the gaming industry. Strain, who co-founded Guild Wars creators ArenaNet and founded State Of Decay developers Undead Labs, was the driving force behind these studios.
The closure of Possibility Space was prompted by an unfortunate event where internal employees leaked confidential information about the company to a journalist. Strain received a list of topics and questions from a reporter at Kotaku, Ethan Gach, regarding an article he was writing about Prytania Media and the closure of Crop Circle Games. The leaked information included details about Project Vonnegut, the company’s publishing partner, and internal financial discussions. This breach of confidentiality led to a breakdown in trust with their publishing partner and the cancellation of Project Vonnegut.
In response to the information leak, Strain made the decision to immediately close down Possibility Space. All staff members were laid off, with the last day of employment being April 12th. Strain mentioned that there was no guarantee of any severance pay at the time of closure, as it would take a few days to calculate the studio’s remaining financial obligations.
Possibility Space was founded in 2021 as a fully remote studio and attracted top talent from the gaming industry. However, despite having ambitious goals and resources, the studio never announced a project publicly. Strain’s vision for the studio was cut short due to the unfortunate circumstances surrounding the information leak.
The closure of Possibility Space is not an isolated incident within Prytania Media. Crop Circle Games, another studio owned by the company, closed down in March after failing to secure financial support for further development. The handling of the closure by Prytania Media has raised concerns in the industry, with some staff members describing it as disrespectful and messy.
Prytania Media’s Possibility Space closure serves as a cautionary tale about the importance of confidentiality within the gaming industry. The repercussions of information leaks can have devastating effects on studios and their employees. It is essential for companies to uphold confidentiality agreements and ensure that sensitive information is protected at all costs. The gaming industry is a competitive and fast-paced environment, and any breach of trust can lead to severe consequences for all parties involved.
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