If you thought that the talk about Crytek being in some kind of financial trouble was just fabrications and exaggerations, think again. The lead graphics engineer at Crytek – the guy responsible for laying down the foundation and groundwork for the CryEngine and related technology – has left the studio to pursue (or further) his career at id Software.
According to Gamespot, graphics engineer Tiago Sousa has parted ways from Crytek and has decided to join forces with rival company, id Software.
The news comes courtesy of Sousa making his pledge to Bethesda's allegiance via a post on Twitter, which you can check out below.
He was met with plenty of warm welcomes and a lot of congratulatory back-patting as he shifted from one of the most prestigious graphics development studios to another prestigious graphics development studio.
This switch comes on the heels of blossoming rumors that Crytek UK is on the verge of collapse, as the company was first rumored to have not being paying employees on a timely basis, according to one report.
Later on, it was reported by Kotaku that Homefront: The Revolution's lead game director parted ways with Crytek, and that all of the upper management at the studio in the U.K., have left or vacated their positions. Quite naturally, Crytek has fervently denied rumors about closure, bankruptcy or being in any kind of financially dire straits. Although, the mounting evidence definitely seems to be working against Crytek in this case.
As for Sousa joining id Software... he has a lot of work cut out for him in the road ahead. Doom was recently revealed to QuakeCon attendees at this year's event, but we won't get anything official until 2015, according to Bethesda's VP, Pete Hines.
Nevertheless, the upcoming first-person shooter will be running on id Software's brand new id Tech 6. The new game engine will work as a springboard for the company's plans to offer up titles throughout eighth gen gaming while maximizing the technology offered to them via the Xbox One and PlayStation 4.
As to whether or not Crytek will be able to manage without their lead graphics engineer – especially with Homefront: The Revolution still a year off from release – is a whole other story. Don't be surprised if they make an announcement about the project sometime soon.
Many gamers are hoping that Homefront will be okay, while others speculate that Deep Silver may look into selling off the IP, even though Crytek purchased the Homefront license for over half-a-million dollars during THQ's bankruptcy liquidation. The game itself centers on a rebel conflict taking place under a Korean-occupied Philadelphia in an alternate timeline of the USA.
Nevertheless, the one thing we do know for sure is that id Software is definitely ramping up talent to make Doom as good as possible for when it's time to unveil the game to the general public in 2015.
