Crop Circle Games

About Crop Circle Games

Crop Circle Games was a video game development studio established in 2021 by industry veterans Jeff and Annie Strain, operating under their parent company, Prytania Media. Jeff Strain's extensive background includes co-founding ArenaNet (the studio behind the Guild Wars franchise) and founding Undead Labs, which developed the popular State of Decay series. This venture was the second studio under the Prytania Media imprint, following Possibility Space, and was launched with the vision of creating emotionally engaging, narrative-driven sandbox games centered on themes of hope, humor, and human empowerment.

The studio was publicly unveiled in October 2022, backed by a significant $25 million investment from Transcend Fund and other strategic partners. Crop Circle Games was set up as a fully distributed, remote-work studio, aiming to attract top talent from across the industry. The leadership team comprised a roster of experienced developers, with Jessica Brunelle as Studio Director, Doug Williams as Creative Director, and Ocala Scott-Bellows as Art Director, many of whom had previously worked on the State of Decay series.

The company's business model was centered on the development and sale of new intellectual properties in the PC and console gaming market. Although the specific details of its debut title were never publicly released, the studio focused on developing a playable prototype to pitch to publishers and investors. The business was designed to operate within the mainstream video game market, creating titles for a global audience.

Despite its strong initial funding and the pedigree of its leadership, Crop Circle Games faced significant headwinds. In February 2024, the company underwent a round of layoffs and furloughs. By March 2024, Prytania Media announced the permanent closure of the studio. The shutdown was attributed to a failure to secure additional financing for its project after numerous pitches to publishers and investors. The parent company cited rapidly changing market conditions and player tastes post-pandemic, which ultimately rendered the studio's game concept commercially unviable.