30 years after Descent, developer Volition is suddenly no more

Enlarge / Poor critical and commercial reception for the latest Saints Row reboot may have played a role in Volition's fate.

Volition—the development studio behind franchises from Descent and Freespace to Red Faction and Saints Row—has been abruptly shut down after a 30-year run. Parent company Embracer Group said the studio will be closed "effective immediately" as part of a massive restructuring program that began in June, according to a farewell notice posted on Volition's website and on LinkedIn.

"The Volition team has proudly created world-class entertainment for fans around the globe for 30 years," the statement reads, in part. "We've been driven by a passion for our community and always worked to deliver joy, surprise and delight."

Some of Volition's more than 200 employees are sharing news of their layoffs. But it's unclear just how many of the studio's more than 200 employees are now out of a job and how many will be transitioned to other parts of Embracer's gaming behemoth, which includes Gearbox Entertainment, THQ Nordic, Eidos Interactive, and many more studios.