300°

Embracer CEO confirms TimeSplitters studio faces closure before Christmas

TimeSplitters studio Free Radical Design faces closure before Christmas, Embracer CEO Lars Wingefors has privately acknowledged.

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videogameschronicle.com
Obscure_Observer153d ago

I hope those (selectively) against acquisition of studios are now satisfied.

Nitrowolf2153d ago (Edited 153d ago )

What does this even mean lol, this very studio was formed out of a acquisition (purchase of the IP)

How does that in any way serve towards your comment

Not to mention the layoffs from Embracer

Obscure_Observer153d ago (Edited 153d ago )

"How does that in any way serve towards your comment"

Had Xbox acquired that studio from Embracer before gone, you know N4G would gone riot.

Nitrowolf2153d ago

????
So you're making up scenarios for a studio that was created for the sole purpose of this IP, for console warring?? Where has Xbox ever said they were interested in buying them, and vice versa?

Where's this assumption that they would want to even save them? If that was the case, we would never have any studio closure.

Crows90153d ago

@obscure

Wow...cant even begin to imagine the lengths you take to be so inaccurate.

This studio has barely released anything in the last decade. You think people would've rioted? The contrary. It wouldve been an investment into elevating the studio to be able to bring back timesplitters. I wouldve been grateful.

shinoff2183153d ago

He's basically saying ms acquisition is good embracer bad

mastershredder153d ago

^ Obscure observer is denser than lead.
Obscure’s mouth flaps, and a whole lot of stupid comes out every freak’n time.

northpaws153d ago

@Nitrowolf2

Don't even try, Obscure_Observer has the special power to make every single news into a "XBox good, PS bad" story, powered by infinite amount of delusion, you can't win.

ocelot07152d ago

He just liked to ramble and spout nonsense. Just politily nod and back away slowly.

+ Show (4) more repliesLast reply 152d ago
Crows90153d ago

Tell me how ignorant you are without telling me how ignorant you are.

ChiefofLoliPolice153d ago (Edited 153d ago )

Dude Obscure_Observer is a complete idiot. He always and I mean ALWAYS make comments and responses that make no absolutely NO sense. Trying to get that moron to learn anything is like trying to teach calculus to a drywall.

153d ago
-Foxtrot153d ago (Edited 153d ago )

Jesus

People lose their jobs before Christmas

Obscure_Observer: "BETTER USE THIS TO CALL OUT THOSE PESKY MS HATERS AND BIG MS UP"

I hope those (selectively) who wonder why you get disagreed to oblivion are now satisfied.

Profchaos153d ago (Edited 153d ago )

Xbox dont want studios they want publishers and all the studios that come with it and this isn't even about them not everything is a Xbox slander piece

ziggyzinfirion153d ago

Obscure_Observer

No offense but I think you seriously need to see a doctor.

shadowknight203153d ago

I'm pretty sure Obscure_Observer gets a kick after each comment he reads that bashes him (Some people are like that). He would stop eventually if people simply stopped replying to him altogether lol. But then, maybe everyone who fuels his behavior also gets a kick out of it too

Mr_cheese153d ago

The ultimate satirical troll of N4G strikes again.

But... but... but.... if xbox.

Behave yourself.

1Victor152d ago (Edited 152d ago )

@obscured:”I hope those (selectively) against acquisition of studios are now satisfied.”

Translation by google translate from Xbox fanboy to reality

“I hope those (selectively) in favor acquisition of studios are now satisfied.”
Well when you eat more than you can chew ether you choke to death or poke out, unfortunately when corporations play monopoly thousands of employees families suffer. 😩

Obscure_Observer152d ago

1Victor

"Well when you eat more than you can chew ether you choke to death or poke out, unfortunately when corporations play monopoly thousands of employees families suffer. 😩"

Check your facts and tell that to Sony which fired hundreds of people while shutting down studios and canceling games in the last few years.

shinoff2183152d ago

Sony didn't lay off 10k people. Ms did though. Wtf is wrong with you.

Obscure_Observer152d ago

@shinoff2183

1Victor was talking about "eating more than you can chew" and all Sony has been doing lately is layoff hundreds of people at *Playstation* including Bungie which under Playstation is 8% smaller after just one year despite the fact that Sony paid 1.2 Billion dollar for talent retention.

The layoffs at MS you mentioned only hit a small fraction at 343i at the time. No other Xbox first studio was affected!

SIE is getting people fired left and right, not to mention cancelling games and shutting down first party studios.

Talk about "eat more than you can chew".

Barlos152d ago

I just can't take you seriously.

You're either a troll or you have some serious mental health problems.

Obscure_Observer152d ago

I don´t give a flying f* about what you think about me dude.

Read my name, scroll down and spare both of our time replying to my comments. It´s simple as that.

thorstein152d ago

In the old days on N4G, trolls like obscure would only be allowed one comment per article.

I miss bubbles... and Cat (Legendary Queen of the Mods)

Barlos152d ago

@Obscure

Yeah you've just shown me you need help. Or a lie down. Maybe go out and get some fresh air. You have a lot of pent up angst you need to offload.

+ Show (7) more repliesLast reply 152d ago
OtterX153d ago

The embrace of Embracer feels more like a death squeeze. ☠ Hopefully the Time Splitter property doesn't get abandoned completely, and I would hope at least some of the key creative minds behind the originals are sought within a new studio taking the helm.

darthv72153d ago

you hate to see it... if only there was someone capable of bailing them out and providing them with the capital to make new games in the franchise.

Abnor_Mal153d ago

I’m sure there’s many a “person” who could be capable of bailing them out and providing them with the capital to make new games in the franchise, if they wanted but doesn’t seem like anyone wants to do it as of yet.

UltimateOwnage153d ago

Microsoft hasn’t saved anyone, or any IP by throwing their money around. I can’t think of any franchise or company that is better post-MS. I’d rather the company died a natural death for lack of good new content than be put into zombie mode to pump out MS flavored versions of their once beloved IP.

ZwVw153d ago

"Microsoft hasn’t saved anyone, or any IP by throwing their money around. I can’t think of any franchise or company that is better post-MS."

Either you're uneducated or being willingly ignorant in this regard.
Bungie became a household name in the gaming industry after MS acquired them and changed Halo from a third person RTS to a FPS.
Obsidian were enduring massive financial woes and were on the brink of bankruptcy until MS swooped in to save the day.
Double Fine were able keep originally cut content (due to insufficient funding) into Psychonauts 2, after MS purchased them and allowed them to delay the game and reinstate said content.
Ninja Theory went from developing Hellblade with a team of 20 (having to borrow leased equipment just to complete the game in the process) to over 100 with Hellblade 2 (with complete access to MS' R&D and technologies).

You don't have to like MS but lets not start making revisionist history by acting like no studios have ever benefited after being purchased by them.

darthv72152d ago

I never said MS, nor did i even say any company. I just said someone. You used your own bias to fill in the gap to come to the conclusion you did. Congratulations... and thank you for playing.

Mr_cheese152d ago (Edited 152d ago )

Zwvw

You've named a lot of studios there that haven't been "saved". They've been invested in, with the best return (Halo) eventually being dragged through the mud and Bungie being bought by Sony.

At best what you are saying is that Microsoft has allowed these studies to develop an improved version of their games and even that is up to debate.

This isn't a dig at Microsoft, this is an alternate view of what you're selling.

shinoff2183153d ago

It wasn't their franchise was it?

153d ago
recoctimocassirnff153d ago

I guess you haven't been paying attention the last few years.

MS doesn't bail out developers to invest in them and create new content. They buy up "successful", already existing 3rd party franchises to block them coming to competing consoles.

Sony, on the other hand, if they saved Radical, would be within their MO.

darthv72152d ago

You used your own bias to fill in the gap to come to the conclusion you did. I never mentioned MS, nor any other company. Congratulations... and thank you for playing.

recoctimocassirnff152d ago

"I never mentioned MS, nor any other company"

Really, Darth? Really?....

You were obviously being facetious. Reading between the lines you said "if only there was some super amazing company that is the bestest evaa!! that has being throwing money around, buying up all heaps studios that could also buy this studio. But I just don't know who. It's on the tip of my tounge, but I just can't think of the companies name. Gosh!"

You absolutely did mention MS, so stop playing stupid. And it's not bias, it's just the facts.

+ Show (3) more repliesLast reply 152d ago
RhinoGamer88153d ago

If the studios were bought, the studio leaders got paid right? Millions...
Let them help out their teams now...

Relientk77153d ago

Very sad news :-( I was really looking forward to the return of TimeSplitters. I had a blast with those games

Hofstaderman153d ago

I remember back in november 2000 my dad gifting me Timesplitters after just completing my grade 11 exams. This and the multitap and my friends was one of the best year end breaks I ever had.

Mr_cheese152d ago

The virus mode was wicked back in the day!

Show all comments (54)
50°

Square Enix Declares $140m Loss Amid Game Pipeline Shakeup

Final Fantasy VII Rebirth publisher Square Enix has declared a $140m loss based on a shakeup of its internal development pipeline.

Read Full Story >>
techraptor.net
Furesis1h ago

What are they doing over there? Sounds like they canceled something big. I read a rumor a while back about ff9 remake . Here "Final Fantasy IX has gone through a very challenging development, the game is still in progress but may undergo changes drastic enough that we won't hear about it for a couple of years."
This could be one of the reasons if the rumor is true. That was Silknight i don't know how credible he is but it's something and it would make sense.

shadowT14m ago

Do not miss Final Fantasy 16. Great game!

60°

Here's Everything I Expect From The Witcher 4's Combat

Danish from eXputer: "The Witcher's upcoming sequel needs to overhaul the series' combat system if it wants to make a big splash among gamers."

on_line_forever4h ago

after what we see ( 2015 - 2024 ) in dark souls 3, blood borne , sekiro , dragon's dogma 2 , rise of the Ronin combat they should really careful and bring very good combat in Witcher 4 this time

120°

Square & Bandai Namco Being Honest About Quality Is A Step In The Right Direction

Saad from eXputer: "After suffering from massive financial hits, Square Enix & Bandai Namco appear to be turning over a new leaf but I'm still unconvinced."

Nerdmaster15h ago(Edited 15h ago)

I was talking about games with some Japanese guys here in Japan, and it seems like around here Bandai Namco has a fame of making low-quality games, with the occasional gem.

About Square Enix, I believe they lack the capacity to improve. They should learn with Capcom (although even Capcom still makes some bad mistakes), but I don't think they ever will. They keep chasing whatever is new at the time (blockchain, AI...) to say "we innovate", without considering the public perception and if these things actually improve the games or not. Them releasing too many small games with no advertising also shows a lack of trust in its own products. Even with their biggest games, like turning FF into an action game with XVI and the very divisive plot changes regarding whispers and timelines in VII Remake, shows them trying to attract a new generation of gamers without understanding what made the series so big in the first place.

shinoff218314h ago

I want a true ff7 remake. With thatcsaid I'm way happier with 7 remake then I was with ff16. I'd still prefer turn based but square keep chasing these Lil kids

Snookies1211h ago

Man, it is perfectly fine to prefer turn based. Turn based is amazing. But there's zero reason to call anyone who likes action games "lil kids". Liking one gameplay system over another does not make you more mature in any way.

VersusDMC13h ago

People love the new FF's overall...the problem is the abundance of 7's they release that lose money or make very little like diofield, star ocean divine force, Valkyrie asylum, harvestella, foam stars, etc. Advertising wouldn't have saved those games. Apparently Forespoken had a big Advertising budget but we saw how that went.

shinoff218313h ago(Edited 13h ago)

Star ocean divine force actually sold well from what I've read not ff type numbers but well enough. Was a dope game to.

FinalFantasyFanatic12h ago

Bandai Namco is going to Bandai Namco, I do believe that Square Enix can't change without changing the entire management, they've had these issues for more than a decade and haven't learnt, I have very little faith they can course correct. I'll still buy their better remasters/remakes like Star Ocean 2 though (not FF7R).

Asterphoenix10h ago

Namco is just milking the same Sword Art Online with lack of budget as well as anime IPs that don't go to decent developers like Jujutsu Kaisen and My Hero Academia. Namco deserves their losses and no future Dot Hack or Xenosaga remaster :(.

Square allocated lot of their budget on Forspoken was a mistake. Square always had management issues. Star Ocean 2 was a great remake and I found their recent entries of FF(16 and Rebirth) better than 13 and 15.
I think they were better than 360/PS3 generation where Square went really downhill.

CrimsonWing6913h ago

I don’t know why NOW they decide on this, but I guess later is better than never.