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Björn Pankratz and Jennifer Pankratz have founded a new studio: Pithead Studio. The two experienced game developers are starting their new company as a team of two and will continue to develop games. They want to stay true to the role-playing genre and tell "deep stories", but will probably start with "smaller projects", according to [GameStar](https://www.gamestar.de/artikel/piranha-bytes-zukunft-bjoern-pankratz-pithead-studio,3416007.html).

Björn Pankratz has been Creative Director, Project Manager and Game Designer at Piranha Bytes since 1999. He has been heavily involved in the Gothic trilogy, the Risen trilogy and most recently Elex and Elex 2. He has often represented the studio externally. Earlier this year, when rumours of the closure of the venerable German studio Piranha Bytes began to circulate, [several sources reported](https://www.gamesmarkt.de/german-gamesmarket/piranha-bytes-confirms-difficult-situation-but-remains-resolute-876c381985442ee13c798aae692738c5) that Pankratz had stopped working at Piranha Bytes in November 2023. Jennifer Pankratz has been working as a game designer at Piranha Bytes since October 2008, starting with Risen.

The future of Piranha Bytes remains unclear. The company, based in Essen, North Rhine-Westphalia, issued a statement in January 2024 confirming that it is in a "difficult situation". No further details were given about the status quo. According to the statement, the company should not be written off just yet. They are looking for a new partner to continue developing games in the future. They have no shortage of ideas and creative minds. At the time, it was said: "We stick together, no matter what. Now, we are focussing on this goal with all our strength and do whatever it takes to find a partner for this project."

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Pithead Studio Founded by Björn Pankratz and Jennifer Pankratz