Nerial Closes Its Doors After Significant Financial Losses
Written with artificial intelligence.
Nerial, known for developing the Reigns series, has announced its closure following substantial trading losses exceeding £800,000 in 2025 and nearly £1 million in 2024. The studio's parent company, Devolver, will retain the rights to its games while the founders plan to take a break before pursuing new projects.
Nerial's Closure
Nerial, the studio behind the popular Reigns and Card Shark games, has entered "hibernation mode" and announced its closure after 13 years of operation. Founders Tamara Alliot and François Alliot shared the news via social media, stating that both they and their partner Devolver have decided to end the studio's development.
Financial Struggles
Recent financial reports reveal that Nerial suffered significant losses, reporting over £800,000 in deficits in 2025 and nearly £1 million in 2024. Following these losses, Devolver acquired Nerial in 2021 and had to reduce the studio's workforce by 40% to address challenges with recent game releases.
Future Plans
While Devolver retains the rights to Nerial's existing games, François Alliot expressed a desire to return to their indie roots, emphasizing the need for a more concentrated creative energy that had been diluted under the larger studio model. The Nerial team, currently comprised of nine employees, will seek new opportunities, with the founders planning to take time off to reflect and regroup before potentially returning to game development.
François also mentioned the hope of collaborating with former team members as contractors in the future, though he cannot currently offer salaried positions. He acknowledged the challenges faced by the gaming industry, particularly in the aftermath of COVID-19 and the rise of AI technologies, which he feels are reshaping the landscape.