http://kotaku.com/5113037/free-radical-shuts-down
UK developer Free Radical Design, the team behind Haze and the Time Splitters franchise, have closed their doors, apparently permanently, according to a number of inside sources. The sources confirmed to Kotaku earlier reports that employees were locked out of their offices today in Nottingham. A meeting held later in the day ending with the closure of the independent developer, sources say. While the shut down was a surprise to some within the company, it sounds like it wasn't to all. We've heard that some Free Radical Design employees were jumping ship in the week or two leading to today's news. Free Radical's last game, Haze, was widely received as a mediocre game, but the company was working on a follow up for their popular TimeSplitters franchise and rumored to be working on a Star Wars: Battlefront game for LucasArts. Sources say that the company recently lost the development deal for the LucasArts project, something that could have led to this end of year shut down.
The sources confirmed to Kotaku earlier reports that employees were locked out of their offices today in Nottingham. A meeting held later in the day ending with the closure of the independent developer, sources say.
While the shut down was a surprise to some within the company, it sounds like it wasn't to all. We've heard that some Free Radical Design employees were jumping ship in the week or two leading to today's news.
Free Radical's last game, Haze, was widely received as a mediocre game, but the company was working on a follow up for their popular TimeSplitters franchise and rumored to be working on a Star Wars: Battlefront game for LucasArts.
Sources say that the company recently lost the development deal for the LucasArts project, something that could have led to this end of year shut down.
Well, that sucks.
<a href="http://www.goozex.com/trading/asp/goozexprofile.asp?id=6152786459375"><img src="http://sig.goozex.com/signature/mr%5Fabram.png" width="468" height="90" alt="mr_abram" border="0" /></a>
Well, with the economy the way it is, the future is a little hazy for their employees.
Goozex Forum Moderator
taintedzodiac: Well, with the economy the way it is, the future is a little hazy for their employees.
I'd care, but they made trite like Haze and Timesplitters.
I feel bad for guys losing their jobs. But when you don't deliver, it's hard to stay around too long.
As a fan of the Time Splitters games, this news deeply saddens me.
LucasArts gave Battlefront III to Rebellion a couple of months ago, which is what led to this.
This is very sad. There won't be anymore Timesplitters!
Not all that surprising, considering how bad Haze was, but I mean, the game sold half a million copies. Is that not enough to keep a company going nowadays? Based on all the hype, they probably spent too much to make it.
Maskim: I'd care, but they made trite like Haze and Timesplitters.
This does stink. I loved the last Timesplitters game. It was truly a fun game, and trippy at the same time.
On a different note does anyone know if TimeSplitters Future Perfect work on the 360? I would love to play it again.
Man I really liked Timesplitters FP, although Haze was pretty crappy.
Grammar Hammer
Editor in Chief of Goozernation.com
damn, and I'm a hgue fan of Time Splitters. that's a huge bummer to hear about.
and nice pic of Big Pun maf. lol
Never heard of those games
I feel bad for the workers though.
TriptychR: Maskim: I'd care, but they made trite like Haze and Timesplitters. They made a species of jumping spiders native to Australia and New Zealand or a denomination of ancient Greek currency?*removes English Nazi hat*Sorry. I was a fan of the Timesplitters series, so I'm disappointed by this news.
I incorrectly used an adjective as a noun. Many apologies mein Führer.