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_Observer241d ago

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

Nitrowolf2241d ago (Edited 241d 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_Observer241d ago (Edited 241d 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.

Nitrowolf2241d 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.

Crows90241d 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.

shinoff2183241d ago

He's basically saying ms acquisition is good embracer bad

mastershredder241d ago

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

northpaws241d 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.

ocelot07240d ago

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

+ Show (4) more repliesLast reply 240d ago
Crows90241d ago

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

ChiefofLoliPolice241d ago (Edited 241d 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.

241d ago
-Foxtrot241d ago (Edited 241d 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.

Profchaos240d ago (Edited 240d 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

ziggyzinfirion240d ago

Obscure_Observer

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

shadowknight203240d 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_cheese240d ago

The ultimate satirical troll of N4G strikes again.

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

Behave yourself.

1Victor240d ago (Edited 240d 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_Observer240d 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.

shinoff2183240d ago

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

Obscure_Observer240d 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".

Barlos240d ago

I just can't take you seriously.

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

Obscure_Observer240d 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.

thorstein240d 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)

Barlos239d 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 239d ago
OtterX241d 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.

darthv72241d 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_Mal241d 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.

UltimateOwnage241d 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.

ZwVw240d 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.

darthv72240d 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_cheese239d ago (Edited 239d 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.

shinoff2183241d ago

It wasn't their franchise was it?

241d ago
recoctimocassirnff240d 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.

darthv72240d 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.

recoctimocassirnff240d 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 239d ago
RhinoGamer88241d ago

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

Relientk77241d ago

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

Hofstaderman240d 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_cheese239d ago

The virus mode was wicked back in the day!

Show all comments (54)
90°

Sea of Thieves Developer Rare Now Has a Dedicated Doggo Park

Rare, the developer behind pirate adventure Sea of Thieves, has introduced a dedicated dog park to its studio grounds for employees' good boys and girls.

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techraptor.net
CrimsonWing691d 8h ago

Is the industry hurting for money or not?

Hofstaderman1d 8h ago

They belong to XBOX. Its a dog's life....

Chocoburger1d 8h ago

Nice thing they did, but not actually gaming related, not sure why this article was approved. Also strange informing us what game Rare worked on, as if we don't know their legacy.

Tacoboto1d 7h ago

Sorry you hate dog news - here's a game-related headline for you, the latest: "Deathsprint 66 is a hyperviolent freerunner that proves game journos suck at games | Video Gamer"

Yeah we need more headlines like *that* on this site, instead of news about a studio's employee perks.

GaboonViper1d 7h ago

Its actually nice to see a story like this instead of the usual doom and gloom but people still moan, anyhow hope these beautiful doggos have a great life.

1d 8h ago
GaboonViper1d 7h ago

Really nice story, kudos to Rare.

Mulletino14h ago

I went to look at new apartments and saw only dog parks, no kid parks. We're so screwed.

270°

Concept Art For Bluepoint's Next Game Spotted In PlayStation Tour Video

A new PlayStation Malaysia tour video shows what looks to be concept art for Bluepoint's next game.

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thegamer.com
phoenixwing1d 11h ago

Damn was hoping for a fantasy setting. Looks futuristic

jznrpg1d 10h ago (Edited 1d 10h ago )

I think that’s a screensaver if you look to the right it looks more like a fantasy game and so does the concept art leaked earlier. Who knows though

phoenixwing12h ago

Unless that structure/pillar thingy in the right picture is long forgotten technology it's futuristic.

Name Last Name1d 11h ago (Edited 1d 11h ago )

Another shooter? Yawn. Thought the prevous concept looked more fantasy.

just_looken21h ago

With there same look on the right a arena setting this might be live service game #5 from sony

So a live service shooter like concord.....

StormSnooper20h ago

It looks like a fantasy game on the right screen. You are looking at a screensaver.

Goodguy011d 11h ago

Been looking forward to what they have next. Looks interesting.

Eonjay1d 11h ago

Really excited to see them release an original IP

GaboonViper1d 7h ago

Looks like my dream of them remaking Metal Gear Solid is over, still cant wait to see what they are cooking up.

Show all comments (17)
90°

World of Warcraft developers form wall-to-wall union at Blizzard Entertainment

The new unit comprises over 500 developers representing the entire World of Warcraft development team.

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gamedeveloper.com
2d ago
XiNatsuDragnel1d 21h ago

Unions in gaming are necessary fr fr

montebristo1d 9h ago

I used to be anti-union, it kills productivity, investment and turns product mediocre. Their games suck anyways though so what was lost? Might as well get their people paid until they are dissolved.

shinoff21831d 9h ago

Unions are necessary regardless of how you feel. You know how fked the working class would be without them. As if we're not already.

montebristo1d 8h ago

No they aren’t, regardless of how you feel. Unions make zero sense for skill based labor. They are for people who press a button every 10 seconds on an assembly line. “working class” is a made up term. I don’t care about corporations or developers, I just want good games lol. Killing your incentives to appease the lowest common denominator doesn’t lead to great games imo

montebristo1d 2h ago (Edited 1d 2h ago )

I wasn’t trying to be offensive if I came off that way. The Union is an old mentality and I can see their usefulness but also the danger. We’re in the age of AI and robots and skill based labor. Unions can be dangerous these days. You could replace your entire workforce in one move. Checkmate. Look to the kiosk replacing workers in the 20 dollar minimum wage era.

Well run businesses don’t need unions. If you need a Union that business won’t survive anyway. Unless it’s propped up by the government with corporate welfare (which is the real issue). If you’re not going to spend some on your workers (Amazon, Google) then your welfare is cut off. No tax breaks. All you put together don’t match their wealth and resources, the union is a traditional memory at this point and counterproductive with this new enemy we face. They need a flying elbow from the top ropes. And by “working class is a made up term” I just mean we’re not a class system and even CEO Bobby Kotick puts in a days work lol. Or did.. It’s just a vague term that doesn’t mean anything no offense lol. People say “middle class” but that can change quick right? Up or down. That’s not a “class system”.