Crytek Founder Steps Down As CEO Following Early Access Launch Of Hunt: Showdown

Crytek, the developer best known for the Crysis series, has announced that its CEO has stepped down. Cevat Yerli, who is also one of the founders of the company, is stepping down and will be replaced by his brothers, Avni and Faruk.

The studio announced the news on its website, stating that Avni and Faruk will serve as joint CEOs. There's no specifics on the reasoning behind Cevat's resignation; Crytek provides only the recent Steam Early Access launch of Hunt: Showdown as context for the change. Cevat will remain affiliated with the company as a "Strategic Shareholder."

"With the company in a strong position, now is the ideal time to recognize the existing leadership's excellent achievements over these past two years and formally transition executive leadership to Avni and Faruk," Cevat explained in a press release. "I have been honored to serve as CEO of the company I founded with my brothers almost 20 years ago and have seen the team accomplish breakthrough things in that time. I look forward to continue helping Crytek as a major shareholder, and I am very excited to see what tomorrow brings."

Crytek promised that its plans and priorities remain the same: it'll continue to enhance CryEngine, which it licenses out to other developers; it will further develop Hunt: Showdown; and it'll continue to operate Warface.

Although last week's release of Hunt went well and the game has been met with a positive reception, Crytek has nonetheless run into some trouble over the past few years. It dealt with a series of high-profile reports on its dire financial situation, and just this year it filed a lawsuit against Star Citizen developer Cloud Imperium Games for alleged breach of contract. However, according to Crytek, an investment in Fall 2017 has stabilized the company for the foreseeable future.