Nerial is shutting down after Reigns run
Reigns studio Nerial is closing after nearly 13 years. Founder François Alliot says the move is tied to finances, the industry climate, and wanting a fresh start.
AI-generated summary based on reporting by Kotaku.
Nerial, the studio behind Reigns, is shutting down after nearly 13 years and 11 games. Creative director and founder François Alliot said the decision is tied to a mix of business pressure, the state of the games industry, and his own wish to rethink his indie career.
Reigns was Nerial’s breakout hit when it launched in 2016. It helped the studio reach a much wider audience and led to spinoffs based on Game of Thrones and The Witcher. But later games like Card Shark and Crush House were less profitable, and Alliot said that changed how he wanted to move forward.
Alliot said the closure was a mutual decision with Devolver Digital, which bought Nerial in 2021. Devolver will keep the rights to Nerial’s games. Alliot said he wants to get back to making games with less pressure and more creative focus.
Nerial has nine people in total. Alliot and his wife, Tamara, will keep making games together, while seven others are being laid off for now. Alliot said he hopes to work with them again later as contractors.
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