Jack Emmert returns to Cryptic Studios as CEO amid studio shake-ups

Jack Emmert is back at Cryptic Studios, returning to the Star Trek Online developer as CEO. Emmert confirmed the move in an interview with PC Gamer, where he said he’s not coming in to wind things down, but to keep the studio going and potentially chart a new direction for Cryptic’s live games and whatever comes next. Cryptic Studios also develops the action MMORPG Neverwinter.

Emmert is one of Cryptic’s co-founders and has held a string of executive roles at the studio over the years, including a previous stint as CEO starting in 2011. He left in 2016 after taking a CEO role at Daybreak’s Austin studio. More recently, he led NetEase’s Austin-based Jackalope Games, later renamed Jackalyptic Games, which he said was shut down last November.

This leadership change lands after a turbulent few years for Cryptic. The studio became part of Embracer Group in 2021 when Embracer acquired Perfect World Entertainment’s North American and publishing operations. Cryptic was later hit by layoffs in 2023 and 2024, then began operating under mobile developer Deca Games.

Emmert’s return also follows Embracer’s decision last November to divest Cryptic alongside Arc Games, with Cryptic “reassum[ing] responsibility” for its games. That includes Star Trek Online, Neverwinter, and Champions Online.

Emmert said the Deca staff who were previously working on those titles are now part of Cryptic, and that the current team is a mix of newer developers and longtime Cryptic veterans. He also suggested he’d like to bring back more former Cryptic employees over time, though he didn’t share specifics on hiring plans or what “new identity” might look like in practice.