Jukai Studio Shuts Down Following Release of Stray Souls

Over the holiday season, Jukai Studio revealed that it would be ceasing operations, just a few months after launching its survival horror game Stray Souls in October. The studio's decision to shut down was attributed to several factors, including the closure of its publisher Versus Evil, as well as the intense cyberbullying and negative reception that Stray Souls received, resulting in disappointing sales. In a social media statement on December 22, the developer expressed that despite their best efforts to deliver the game in its best form, the team faced relentless online attacks, with the publisher's staff, other development teams, and even community members being targeted with unwanted messages and emails. The studio acknowledged that the community's lack of support was understandable, given the circumstances. Although the matter is now being handled by lawyers and cannot be discussed further, Jukai Studio assured that it will not abandon Stray Souls, even after the studio's closure. Notably, the shutdown did not involve any layoffs, as the studio was never a large corporation and the team members have decided to go their separate ways. The news coincided with the closure of Versus Evil, Jukai Studio's publisher, which was acquired by TinyBuild in 2021.