Still Wakes the Deep developer The Chinese Room regains its independence

The Chinese Room, the developer behind the game "Still Wakes the Deep," has regained its independence by buying back from the Sumo Group. The studio will continue to develop new franchises and work on existing projects, including the long-delayed "Vampire: The Masquerade — Bloodlines 2" with Paradox Interactive. However, the good news is tainted by the announcement of an undisclosed number of layoffs as part of the split from Sumo Group. The studio is now left with 55 developers, and the company stated that no further layoffs are planned as they move forward. The Chinese Room is known for its work on other titles such as "Little Orpheus," "Everybody's Gone to the Rapture," and the acclaimed "Dear Esther." The studio's head, Ed Daly, expressed excitement about the opportunity to continue working on new, original intellectual property and to partner with other studios on projects that align with their vision.