Breaking News: Remedy Finds Themselves in a Bit of a Quagmire
In a move that’s sure to stir the pot, the bigwigs at Remedy Entertainment have decided it’s time for a shake-up. CEO Tero Virtala is now officially out the door, effective immediately. No farewell party, no confetti, just a hasty exit—much like a game of dodgeball gone wrong.
In a riveting statement resembling a corporate version of “we need to talk,” the board revealed that Virtala and the gang “mutually agreed” it was time to part ways. How delightful. Just 12 days after the company broke the news of a profit warning—because who doesn’t love a twist in the saga?—Tero is taking his leave.
The Chair Shuffle: Who’s in Charge Now?
While the dust settles on the Virtala exit, don’t fret; they’ve got an interim CEO ready to step in. Remedy co-founder Markus Mäki has dusted off his CEO hat and taken the reins, all while stepping down from his Chairman of the Board role. Talk about multitasking; perhaps that’s what “firebreak” really means.
Markus, in a statement that might as well have been a thank-you card, expressed gratitude for Virtala’s “substantial contribution” to Remedy since 2016. In classic corporate-style politeness, Mäki added a personal touch by wishing Virtala “all the best for the future”—which might have just implied a not-so-subtle hint to play a little nicer with his next venture.
What Happened to Firebreak? Spoiler Alert: It Didn’t Go Well
So what could have led to this midday crisis? Well, this all started a fortnight ago when the company issued a dire profit warning, claiming “weak sales” of their first multiplayer extravaganza, FBC: Firebreak. Set in the universe of Control—not to be confused with any method of adulting—the game launched with the fanfare of a balloon slowly deflating. In its debut month, while it managed to snag over a million players, many were simply taking advantage of the kind of subscription services that make you wonder why anyone bothers to buy games anymore.
Initial reports suggested that most of those eager beavers were wandering in from Xbox Game Pass and PlayStation Plus. Oops! Sounds like a classic case of misleading numbers if there ever was one.
A Little Foreshadowing: The Profit Calamity
The profit warning disclosed that despite the seemingly massive player base, actual sales numbers were a different story. The beloved studio had to admit sales were tragically underwhelming, prompting a gloomy revision of their business outlook that now hints at a €14.9 million downturn. Ouch! That surely stings.
To add a cherry on top of this tumultuous sundae, SteamDB reports that FBC: Firebreak experienced a peak player count of roughly 2,000 at launch. Just 12 days post-profit warning? The number plummeted spectacularly, struggling to reach a staggering peak of—wait for it—100 players. In the past week, that number dipped below 50, making it the thriving phenomenon of the realm of crickets.
Conclusion or Just More Questions?
With the winds of change blowing (or shall we say, blowing up), Remedy finds itself amid an unexpected transitional phase. Good luck, Markus, in steering the ship; let’s hope the next captain has a more favorable sea ahead without any treacherous iceberg in sight. But hey, at least there’s always the next game to swoop in and save the day—if anyone’s left to play!
