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[[File:Old Star Citizen loading screen.png|thumb|Star Citizen loading screen in 2015]]'''Crytek''' is a video game and software developer and a publisher.

They have developped among others ''Farcry'', the ''Crysis'' series, ''Warface'', ''Ryse: Son of Rome'', ''Hunt: Showdown'' and the [[CryEngine]] game engine.

In 2014 while wages at Crytek went delayed or unpaid, rumors of Crytek bankruptcy started making the rounds, which Crytek denied.<ref>[https://www.eurogamer.net/crysis-developer-crytek-claims-bankrupt-report-is-false Crysis developer Crytek denies "verge of bankruptcy" claim. But reports indicate staff have gone unpaid.] Eurogamer, 23 Jun 2014</ref> Lack of communication eroded trust while concerns were raised over the future of ''Homefront: The Revolution''<ref>[https://www.eurogamer.net/crytek-uk-exodus-sparks-concern-over-homefront-the-revolution Crytek UK exodus sparks concern over Homefront: The Revolution. High turnover, unpaid wages and of a lack of trust in management]. Eurogamer, 24 Jun 2014</ref> and ''Ryse 2'' got cancelled.<ref>[https://www.eurogamer.net/cryteks-ryse-2-canned-as-financial-struggle-spreads-to-shanghai Crytek's Ryse 2 canned as financial struggle spreads to Shanghai. More tales of unpaid wages]. Eurogamer, 26 Jun 2014</ref> Crytek announced having secured capital<ref>[https://venturebeat.com/games/crytek-secures-capital-as-it-finally-comes-clean-about-its-financial-issues/ Crytek secures capital as it finally comes clean about its financial issues], Venturebeat, July 25, 2014</ref> which was followed by anouncing the sale of ''Homefront'' and of Crytek UK to publisher Deep Silver.<ref>[https://www.eurogamer.net/deep-silver-parent-company-buys-homefront-from-crytek Deep Silver parent company buys Homefront from Crytek. Hunt development shifted from Austin to Frankfurt. Crytek UK becomes Deep Silver Dambuster Studios.] Eurogamer, 30 Jul 2014</ref> The staff was downsized by about 200-250 and costs were cut.<ref name=":2">[https://www.eurogamer.net/the-transformation-was-painful-we-paid-the-price "The transformation was painful. We paid the price". Crytek boss Cevat Yerli on unpaid wages, Ryse 2 and the future.] Eurogamer, 8 Aug 2014</ref>

"we have two choices: either we let people go immediately and pay the remainder, or we can't pay you right now and we stick together" -Cevat Yerli, Crytek CEO<ref name=":2" />

The primary cause of the financial difficulties according to the CEO was the transformation of the industry, with free-to-play or games as a service - online services in general - to become the future of gaming, which they knew for a while, but they were finishing up their retail games or still had them in development. That shift required a whole different capitalization, as well as an additional talent pool and different types of spending and forecasting. This caused temporarily diminished capital resource, which Crytek had now said had been overcome.<ref name=":2" />

In 2015, Crytek found emergency funding from Amazon,<ref>[https://www.gamesindustry.biz/amazon-licensing-deal-may-have-saved-crytek-report Amazon licensing deal may have saved Crytek - report. Sources say the German developer received as much as $70 million for CryEngine licensing agreement], gamesindustry.biz, April 7, 2015</ref><ref>[https://www.eurogamer.net/crytek-makes-a-deal-with-amazon-report Crytek makes a deal with Amazon - report. Allegedly received $50-70m in the partnership.] Eurogamer, 6 Apr 2015</ref> which spent millions on CryEngine technology used to create the [[Amazon Lumberyard|Lumberyard]] engine, the very same which was named in the later lawsuit when Cloud Imperium games switched to Lumberyard in 2016.

In December 2016, reports of delayed and unpaid wages surfaced once again..<ref>[https://www.polygon.com/2016/12/10/13908156/crytek-employees-not-paid Crytek employees say they’re not being paid, again. Complaints recall crisis publisher faced in 2014]. Polygon, Dec 10, 2016</ref><ref>[https://www.gamespot.com/articles/crysis-developer-allegedly-hasnt-paid-some-employe/1100-6446173/ Crysis Developer Allegedly Hasn't Paid Some Employees for 6 Months], Gamespot, December 12, 2016</ref><ref>[https://www.kitguru.net/gaming/matthew-wilson/source-crytek-is-sinking-wages-are-unpaid-talent-leaving-on-a-daily-basis/ Source: Crytek is sinking, wages are unpaid, talent leaving on a daily basis], KitGuru, December 10, 2016</ref><ref>[https://www.eurogamer.net/crytek-once-again-in-crisis Crytek once again in crisis. Staff suffer delayed wages, future of company in doubt.] Eurogamer, 13 Dec 2016</ref> Crytek announced that their studios in Hungary, Bulgaria, South Korea and China would be shut down<ref>[https://www.polygon.com/2016/12/20/14023746/crytek-studios-shutdown Crytek closing five studios, will refocus on ‘premium IPs’ and CryEngine. Only Frankfurt and Kiev studios will remain]. Polygon, Dec 20, 2016</ref><ref>[https://www.eurogamer.net/crytek-breaks-silence-lets-go-of-multiple-studios Crytek breaks silence, closes multiple studios. "Undergoing such transitions is far from easy…"] Eurogamer, 20 Dec 2016</ref>

Then, in January 2017, Crytek found more money by selling ''Warface'' publishing rights to Russian-owned game giant My.com<ref>[https://www.eurogamer.net/crytek-announces-new-warface-publishing-deal Russian publishing giant picks up Crytek's FPS Warface. Transition begins next month.] Eurogamer, 18 Jan 2017</ref>

On 7 March 2017, Crytek sold Crytek Black Sea to Sega and The Creative Assembly.<ref>[https://www.polygon.com/2017/3/7/14844758/crytek-black-sea-studio-now-creative-assembly-sofia-total-war-sega Crytek sells off Black Sea studio to Sega, Total War creators. Say hello to Creative Assembly Sofia]. Polygon, Mar 7, 2017</ref><ref>[https://www.eurogamer.net/crytek-black-sea-now-a-part-of-total-war-developer-creative-assembly Crytek Black Sea now a part of Total War developer Creative Assembly. Sofia not.] Eurogamer, 7 Mar 2017</ref>