Rumor / Free Radical closes? |
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| BY Thom Dinsdale Dec. 18th, 2008 | More on: |
Big things happening at Free Radical Design today as the web is awash with rumors that the UK-based developer has shut its doors for the last time. Quite literally, it is reported that staff have been locked out of the building and that the developer is currently unreachable.
The studio behind the iconic TimeSplitters franchise has hit stormy seas in recent months with its long awaited PlayStation 3-exclusive Haze failing to meet expectation along with the loss of a major deal with LucasArts wounding the studio’s chances to redeem itself. There are further rumors that have emerged surrounding the mistreatment of staff and a number of significant departures.
In spite of this, Free Radical’s screen-writer Rob Yescombe has told Spong that the firm has not pulled the plug. When asked whether there was any truth to the rumors of the firm shutting its doors, Yescombe replied, “Nope, not true.” Unfortunately for fans, right now his voice stands alone in a hysterical chorus decrying the firm’s demise.
December 18th, 2008
at 1:01 pm
One bad game from a company that has a history of making very good games, and they out of business? Extremely harsh.
FR should have turned themselves into a bank, then the government would have bailed them out.
December 18th, 2008
at 1:39 pm
I know. It’s terrible really. What has frustrated me about it is Haze only received the reception it did because it got wound up by fanboys into the whole “console war” simply by virtue of being PS3 exclusive. There was far too much expectation and hype laid upon the game and as such it didn’t really get a fair or objective hearing.
December 18th, 2008
at 3:31 pm
It still wasn’t that good a game. However, not company destroying bad at all.