Embracer's Chief Operating Officer confirms their departure following a challenging year for the gaming giant

Egil Strunke announced his departure from Embracer Group, a major holding company that owns numerous game developers, including Gearbox and Crystal Dynamics. He shared this news on Monday, stating that his departure from the company occurred last week.

In June, Embracer announced the appointment of an interim Chief Operating Officer (COO), Matthew Karch, the head of Saber Interactive. The COO typically holds the second most important position in the organization and is responsible for the day-to-day operations of the company.

Strunke expressed mixed feelings about his departure, expressing gratitude to his colleagues, including the unique CEO Lars Wingefors, and acknowledging the challenges of the past year at the company.

Strunke's departure comes at a challenging time for Embracer Group, which has faced the collapse of a major deal and has implemented a restructuring program involving studio closures and project terminations. These changes have led to layoffs in various companies, including Gearbox Publishing, Crystal Dynamics, Beamdog, and the closure of Volition, the developer of Saints Row. There are also reports of the potential sale of Gearbox, the creator of Borderlands, which was acquired in 2021 for up to $1.4 billion.

The year 2023 has proven to be a difficult one for the gaming industry, marked by widespread job losses across different companies.