TimeSplitters got cancelled for a second time recently, but for what reason? And is there any hope for another comeback?
Unveiled footage of the cancelled TimeSplitters game emerges after Free Radical's closure, igniting fans' nostalgia and hopes for a revival.
From looking at the gameplay, it just looks like Fortnite, this would have been very poorly received by timesplitters fans.
Another legendary series that ends brutally.. glad this never came out, it’s an insult to the original one
I'm glad this got cancelled, what's with the Fornite knockoff? TimeSplitters was an FPS, not a 3rd person battle royale.
What were they thinking?
I got into a minor disagreement with their staff shortly after the closure, after i commented about a Timesplitters HD remaster to gauge public reception before such a big project here:
https://www.linkedin.com/fe...
Looking at the gameplay footage, it's clear that the staff (no matter what level) we're out of their depth, putting lots of hours into a game that would of been DOA if Embracer didn't shut it down.
They removed the footage. Here it is if anyone's interested: https://youtu.be/BesmfPD8fj...
It's basically a Fortnite clone. Seems like a good decision to cancel this game.
TimeSplitters studio Free Radical Design faces closure before Christmas, Embracer CEO Lars Wingefors has privately acknowledged.
I hope those (selectively) against acquisition of studios are now satisfied.
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
"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.
????
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.
@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.
^ Obscure observer is denser than lead.
Obscure’s mouth flaps, and a whole lot of stupid comes out every freak’n time.
@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.
He just liked to ramble and spout nonsense. Just politily nod and back away slowly.
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.
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.
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
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
The ultimate satirical troll of N4G strikes again.
But... but... but.... if xbox.
Behave yourself.
@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. 😩
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.
@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".
I just can't take you seriously.
You're either a troll or you have some serious mental health problems.
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.
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)
@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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
"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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
"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.
If the studios were bought, the studio leaders got paid right? Millions...
Let them help out their teams now...
Very sad news :-( I was really looking forward to the return of TimeSplitters. I had a blast with those games
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.
Deep Silver announced that TimeSplitters is officially coming back and Free Radical Design is being resurrected to work on it.
Rose tinted specs are everywhere here. It's borderline unplayable by today's standards, and seriously doubt anyone was involved is still working on it. Its just a name thatll be used to peddle some 6/10 dross.
Oh, because a game hasn't aged well means it wasn't good at the time? Gtfo with your negativity.
The article literally says this in the first line of the article: "Deep Silver (which bought the IP in 2018) announced the resurrection of the historic development team Free Radical Design, featuring industry veterans Steve Ellis and David Doak who worked on the original TimeSplitters."
Lol. I love the series. Can't wait to see what they come up with.
I'd take Timesplitters over todays modern live service shooters crammed with weekly challenges, battle passes, lootboxes and BR.
Goldeneye is unplayable today by your standards. Doesn't tarnish it's legacy one bit.
I played timesplitters 3 on the gamecube a few weeks ago. Holds up really well actually. The graphics are nice, the gameplay is great, level design and audio is spot on and it's full of content. Not sure some of the innuendos and women in skimpy outfits will make it through todays censors though. Beside that they could release as is in HD and it would still hold up today. I especially love the haunted house levels.
Can we get a remaster of the original Three games with updated controls adjusted difficulties and other quality of life improvements
Me too great games... Back in the days we r all excited about ts because the games was in fact created from almost all the main programers from rare team Who was responsible for goldeneye and perfect dark.
They left rare before sold to ms... Ahh memories
I loved Timesplitters when it came out. Spent probably as many hours on it as I did with GoldenEye.
But I fear this is too little too late. This type of shooters isn't really what grabs people anymore. Unless modernized it won't really take off. At least that is what I think
Agreed, if they take the unique elements of the series and create a brand new game it could be great. If it's just Timesplitters with a superficial modern lick of paint it'll feel too old fashioned imo.
Doom is an old style shooter and has done well.
I wouldn't underestimate the power of nostalgia. TS is very different to most shooters, which can help it stand out.
That's IF it's done right of course.
Yeah since many are tried of current crops of shooters. Many would not mind old school with an updated take
If the new TS has the option to build your own maps/arenas like in the old days, then it will sell pretty well I believe. Play and share those self builds maps with friends, appealing enough for me :)
That’s gonna be the key to success right there. From Dreams to Roblox to Minecraft people love to create and people love to play on created content.
I'd offer the counter argument that we have enough BRs and Counter Strike knockoffs that a simple arena shooters might find a solid audience.
Was reading an article in Retro Gamer recently and they did a piece on the history of Timesplitters. There were hints that it could return at some point so I'm not surprised by this. But it will be interesting as it's the original team working on it
To be honest the odds of this ever being good or recapturing the original trilogy were always going to be slim to none. The franchise was a product of its time. Look at how misplaced nostalgia met reality with Goldeneye and Perfect Dark. If you have to use old IP then most of the time you have to completely reinvent it from the ground up.
What a game, this is lame