Back Piranha Bytes Czech Piranha Bytes German Piranha Bytes Spanish Piranha Bytes French Piranha Bytes Hungarian Piranha Bytes Armenian Piranha Bytes Italian Piranha Bytes Japanese Piranha Bytes Dutch Piranha Bytes Polish
 | |
| Formerly |
|
|---|---|
| Company type | Subsidiary |
| Industry | Video games |
| Founded | 1997 in Bochum, Germany |
| Founders |
|
| Defunct | June 30, 2024 |
| Headquarters | , Germany |
Key people | Michael Rüve (managing director) |
| Products | |
Number of employees | 33 (2021) |
| Parent |
|
| Website | piranha-bytes.com |
Piranha Bytes GmbH was a German video game developer based in Essen. It was best known for their Gothic and Risen series of role-playing video games.
Piranha Bytes was founded in Bochum in 1997 and bought by Phenomedia in 1999. When Phenomedia filed for insolvency in May 2002, the Piranha Bytes management bought out the studio. THQ Nordic, as part of Embracer Group, then acquired the company in May 2019.
Piranha Bytes was reported to be in the process of closing since December 2023. It was closed sometime in June 2024 due to Embracer Group failing to find a new owner for the company, according to a former employee; the company declined to make a public statement on their closure.[1]
- ^ Ivan, Tom (8 July 2024). "Embracer's Gothic and Elex studio Piranha Bytes has reportedly closed down". VGC. Retrieved 8 July 2024.