Jukai Studio, the creator behind Stray Souls, has declared its closure, citing multiple reasons for the decision. Chief among them were the disappointing sales and reception of their debut game, coupled with the distressing experience of cyberbullying.
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Statement from Jukai Studio
In a statement released last month, Jukai Studio acknowledged the high expectations players had for Stray Souls but revealed that the development team consisted of only two core individuals, supported by contracted personnel.
Despite their efforts to deliver the game to the best of their abilities, the studio faced relentless cyber attacks throughout the project's duration. The harassment extended not only to the studio but also to their publisher, staff, and even other development teams associated with the project. The community itself became a target, receiving unwanted messages and emails.
Jukai Studio clarified that due to legal proceedings, they couldn't elaborate further on the cyberbullying incidents. However, they expressed their commitment to pursuing the matter even after the studio's closure.
Industry Challenges and Other Closures
The closure of Jukai Studio in December is not an isolated incident. First Contact Entertainment, the developer of Firewall Ultra, also shuttered last month due to the industry's overall lack of support for virtual reality (VR) gaming.
Stray Souls, an action-horror game, launched on October 25, 2023, across multiple platforms including PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X|S. However, it faced a critical backlash upon release, scoring a meager 31 on Metacritic, contributing to its commercial struggle.
Despite the studio's closure, Jukai Studio assured players that Stray Souls will remain available on Steam and consoles.
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