Ex-WipEout dev casts doubt over future instalments, discusses new project

VG247: WipEout may not make a comeback following Sony Studio Liverpool’s unexpected closure last year. That’s the prediction of ex-WipEout developer Nick Burscombe, whose new studio Playrise releases it’s first game on iOS Table Top Racing later this month. The developer has given VG247 insight into his time with the WipEout franchise and his new game in a new interview.

[Cajun Chicken]

Still a ridiculous closure.

[zerocrossing]

Im frankly disgusted with MS and Sony closing great studios left right and centre like this, Wipeout was amazing and the devs deserved better.

[Hingle_Mcringleberry]

Extremely so. They made perfectly good games. SONY should have made them do something else if WipeOut had become commercially unviable.

[jimbobwahey]

I consider Wipeout HD to be one of the best games of this console generation, but I can see why the studio was closed. Sony never advertised Wipeout HD so nobody knew about it and subsequently nobody bought it either.

It's a tragedy because they had some of the most talented people in the industry working there. F1:CE was a great launch showcase of the PS3, and to this day is still one of the most graphically impressive racing games around, with hands-down the most realistic lighting engine yet seen combined with a buttery smooth framerate. Codemasters are yet to make an F1 game that comes close.

Wipeout HD was a technical marvel, one of few true 1080p native 60fps games combined with unrivaled art direction and some of the most impressive visuals in the genre. These games were terrific fun yes, but they demonstrated some of the most impressive technical wizardry in the industry and still today are shining examples of what the PS3 can do.

Unfortunately though, I don't think people will miss the franchise. Wipeout HD and Twisted Metal have been the highlights of the PS3's library for me personally, but nobody really bought these games and as such, both franchises are pretty much dead now and the car combat genre along with them.

[VonBraunschweigg]

Well said. I've been a WipEout fan since 2097 and I remember waiting for news, any news about WipEout HD back in 2007 and early 2008. Not a thing, untill septmber...one week before release. No advertisement, no retailversion, not many reviews. Thankfully enough players for a small but dedicated community, and it's still being played.

Quite unbelievable for a flagship franchise like WipEout. I still consider it as the best downloadable game on PSN, and the Fury update the best DLC ever. Besides Starhawk's free mappacks:)

Still hoping for WipEout on PS4, somewhere within SCE there should still be some common sense. PlayStation is WipEout and WipEout is PlayStation, dammit!

[Knushwood Butt]

If the secret to great game sales is simply to 'advertise', I think publishers would have caught on by now.

Some franchises need to come to an end. That's why we're seeing so many reboots these days. Wipeout HD may have been good quality but the fundamental gameplay hasn't changed since the PS1 days.

Not everyone can get away with that.

[ritsuka666]

Sony closure this amazing studio for hired Superbot devs..Sony, have you lost your minds?

[Bryan574]

Should have closed Guerilla games before Studio Liverpool... Shame.

[first1NFANTRY]

no! they should just keep all the first party devs. frankly i was very satisfied with Wipout HD

[Sizzon]

Lol why Guerilla Games?

the Killzone series is great

[PirateThom]

Wipeout will be released. Sony use it as a showcase piece for new hardware. The developer name may change but, correct me if I'm wrong, weren't a lot of employees moved to other studios?

[Sizzon]

Didn't SCE Liverpool merge with Evolution Studios, the guys who made the Motorstorm games?

[redDevil87]

Yes they did.

Evolution Studios are currently hiring for a new project. Job advertisement is on the PlayStation website.

[Sizzon]

Nice :)

[Darth Stewie]

Yup & yet people forget this fact just look at the comments above.

[P_Bomb]

Exactly.

Furthermore did Halo or COD die without Bungie or Infinity Ward? Did God of War die without David Jaffe, or MaxPayne without Sam Lake?

WipEout can easily live on. Credit to Liverpool, but they only released 1 PS3 game this gen. Lets not act like Sony just closed Santa Monica. Even Sly4 is being done sans SuckerPunch, and I doubt anybody could spot the difference. I'm not worried. Sony owns the blueprint.