Jack Emmert is rejoining Cryptic Studios as the Chief Executive Officer

Image credit: Cryptic Studios

Jack Emmert has taken on the role of CEO at Cryptic Studios, bringing his extensive experience back to the Star Trek Online developer.

In a discussion with PC Gamer, Emmert expressed his ambition to steer the studio towards a thriving future, aiming to ensure its presence for many years to come.

Emmert emphasized, "I'm not here to close things down or halt development. My goal is to reinvigorate Cryptic, building on its history to forge a new path, both in terms of ongoing projects and future endeavors."

Cryptic was co-founded by Emmert in 2000, where he held pivotal roles such as CCO and COO. His ascent to CEO occurred in 2011 after John Needham left the company.

The studio became part of Perfect World in the same year through a $50 million acquisition, subsequent to Atari's decision to divest its interest.

Emmert, however, parted ways with Cryptic in 2016 to lead Daybreak's Austin studio as CEO.

In 2022, Emmert joined Jackalope Games, NetEase's initial studio in the U.S., based in Austin, which was later renamed Jackalyptic Games. He later revealed that the studio was dissolved by NetEase in late 2022.

Reflecting on his career, Emmert acknowledged the learning curve he experienced by engaging with different companies, which helped him evolve into a more adaptable leader.

"This evolution," Emmert stated, "aims to make me a more effective CEO, transforming me into a representative voice for my team and the player community."

In a noteworthy turn of events, Embracer Group acquired Perfect World's North American and publishing branches, encompassing Cryptic, in 2021.

Reorganization efforts at Embracer led to several workforce reductions within Cryptic during 2023 and 2024, with the studio subsequently aligning with mobile-focused Deca Games.

The ensuing sale of Cryptic and Arc Games by Embracer in the same period resulted in Cryptic reclaiming control over its key titles, including Star Trek Online and Neverwinter.

Collaboratively, former Deca Games team members have joined forces with Cryptic, and Emmert is keen on integrating their efforts with veterans who have remained engaged with these projects.