Nerial, the developer behind Reigns, shuts down after experiencing "significant trading losses" during the past two years

Reigns: The Witcher — Image credit: Nerial/Devolver

The game development company Nerial, known for their work on "Reigns" and "Card Shark," has declared its decision to pause operations. This move into "hibernation mode" comes after 13 years and the release of 11 games.

In a message shared on social media, co-founders CEO Tamara Alliot and creative director François Alliot conveyed their decision to wrap up development activities, made in collaboration with their partners at Devolver.

Devolver had acquired Nerial in 2021. The previous year, the studio's workforce was reduced by 40% to address recent challenges and prepare for future projects.

François mentioned to Kotaku that Devolver will continue to hold the rights to Nerial's current games and stressed that their relationship remains positive.

He explained that being part of Devolver meant Nerial's games needed to align with Devolver's brand, which worked well for specific titles like "Reigns" and "Card Shark." However, he noted this dynamic sometimes led to second-guessing their independent ideas. François expressed a desire to return to a more independent style of operation.

Games journalist Chris Kerr highlighted that Nerial reported significant financial losses over the past two years according to a Companies House report, relying heavily on Devolver for financial backing. The studio lost more than £800,000 in 2025 and nearly £1 million in 2024.

Currently employing nine staff members, Tamara and François mentioned their intention to return to game development after a reflective break. They praised the Nerial team and recommended them to other potential employers.

François expressed hope to collaborate with team members as contractors but acknowledged he couldn't maintain them as full-time employees at this time.

He extended thanks to all collaborators who contributed to Nerial's projects, underscoring the significance of these partnerships and expressing a need to reassess his career path amid current industry challenges such as post-pandemic shifts and the rise of AI.