Crytek USA
| Company type | Subsidiary |
|---|---|
| Industry | Video games |
| Founded | 2013 |
| Founder | Cevat Yerli |
| Defunct | 2014 |
| Fate | Development taken over by Crytek; studio downsized to support CryEngine licensees |
| Headquarters | Austin, Texas , United States |
Key people | David Adams (director) |
| Parent | Crytek |
Crytek USA Corp. operated as an American video game developer headquartered in Austin, Texas and functioned as a subsidiary of Crytek. The studio was under the direction of David Adams, who previously served as CEO of Vigil Games, a company that ceased operations after THQ filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in January 2013. Crytek's founder, Cevat Yerli, personally brought Adams on board due to Vigil's notable work on the Darksiders franchise and the reliable leadership demonstrated by its team, many members of which transitioned to Crytek USA.
On July 30, 2014, facing financial troubles that caused delays in employee compensation and led to departures among management and staff, Crytek declared it would take over the sole project of Crytek USA, Hunt: Horrors of the Gilded Age. Subsequently, Crytek USA shifted its focus exclusively to supporting third-party licensees of the CryEngine. In August 2014, following his exit from Crytek USA, Adams established Gunfire Games.
Formation
Crytek initially focused on securing the Homefront intellectual property during THQ’s asset auction, since its sequel was being developed by Crytek UK. Although there was interest in acquiring Vigil Games for its Darksiders series and aligning with plans to create a U.S. branch in Austin, founder Cevat Yerli opted against bidding on Vigil due to a mismatch with Crytek’s strategic goals. After Vigil failed to attract buyers, Yerli reached out directly to Adams, impressed by his enthusiasm and leadership qualities. Following Vigil’s shutdown, Yerli swiftly met with Adams and former employees to recruit them for the newly formed Crytek USA.
By leveraging the creative expertise of Vigil’s staff under Adams' guidance, Yerli employed many former Vigil team members. Crytek USA aimed to develop original intellectual properties rather than continuing previous franchises such as Darksiders or "Crawler". Nevertheless, Adams confirmed that Crytek intended to bid on the Darksiders franchise during THQ’s subsequent auction in hopes of returning it to its original creators. Ultimately, the rights were acquired by Nordic Games.
Shutdown
In June 2014, Crytek USA revealed its debut title, Hunt: Horrors of the Gilded Age. However, by July 30, 2014, Crytek underwent restructuring which involved transferring development of Hunt back to Crytek and dismissing most of the Crytek USA workforce. The studio continued operating on a limited basis to provide support for CryEngine licensees within the United States. Reports surfaced indicating that key leaders, including founder David Adams, had left amid ongoing payroll issues. Comparable financial difficulties contributed to the closure of Crytek UK and resulted in the sale of the Homefront franchise to Koch Media. Subsequently, Adams launched Gunfire Games with a team largely composed of former Vigil employees.