Free Radical Design Closes Down

[Omgporn]

Independent UK studio Free Radical Design closed its doors this morning, GamesIndustry.biz understands, with multiple sources claiming that staff, including senior executives, have already left the company.
It is also believed that the unnamed project for LucasArts - announced back in 2006 and thought to be Star Wars Battlefront III - has been shipped off to Rebellion, the developer behind PSP hit Star Wars Battlefront: Renegade Squadron.
One source claims staff turned up to work today to find doors locked, and instructions to meet at a nearby hotel for a final company meeting.
Last month, when contacted by GamesIndustry.biz, director Steve Ellis denied there were any changes at the company.
"Nothing unusual is happening here. Projects end. New projects start. That's how things have worked for nearly 10 years," he said then.
TimeSplitters 4 and the unnamed project were both still in development said Ellis, as were "other unannounced projects, which are in the process of being signed."
And days later, when more industry chatter questioned the future of the Nottingham studio, Ellis said that "we certainly won't be laying off any staff today. Or, for that matter, any time in 2008."
"If something happens in 2009 I'm sure we'll be prepared to comment - but from where I'm sitting, whatever happens is far more likely to be positive than negative," he added.
Calls to senior staff at Free Radical Design by GamesIndustry.biz yesterday and today have not been returned.

Haven't found a better game than Timesplitters 2 and 3 this gen.


Truly shocking.

[Billhouse]

Haze was pathetic so I can see how this may have happened. Also Star Wars Battlefront III was shipped off to Rebellion and they couldnt find a publisher for Timesplitters 4. I hope that does still come out.

[ant3b]

Im sure they all will find jobs and implement there own ideas! how i would love to be a game dev..!

[Billhouse]

Yeah I heard that Codemaster reps were taking in CV's from Free Radical staff.

[rIKmAN]

Haven't found a better game than Timesplitters 2 and 3 this gen.

Shouldn`t this be in the comedy section

[mysterym]

Haven't found a better game than Timesplitters 2 and 3 this gen.

You can't be serious mate, the lad used to play the timesplitters games to death. They were okay but not a patch on later fps games.

[Billhouse]

They werent that great anyway. Halo 3 and Call of Duty along with many other shooters are far better. Anyway I believe Timesplitters 2 and 3 were 'last gen'. This gen is the current gen or as some still refer to it as the next gen. But in fact the next gen will be the next series of consoles unless they are the next next gen? My head is hurting.

[garagekru]

i agree timsplitters where fucking great!

[Omgporn]

This gen has been shite. What have we got out of it ? COD4, now the biggest chav fest ever and Halo 3, a group of people who will have never played a MP game before.


Timesplitters2 and 3 multiplayer was the closest we will ever get to Goldeneye yet people still bum that game.


Face the facts, Timesplitters2 kicks its ass still!

[mysterym]

This gen has been shite. What have we got out of it ? COD4, now the biggest chav fest ever and Halo 3, a group of people who will have never played a MP game before.


Timesplitters2 and 3 multiplayer was the closest we will ever get to Goldeneye yet people still bum that game.


Face the facts, Timesplitters2 kicks its ass still!

Don't know what level you play halo 3 at mate, however at the level i play at, everyone knows how to play halo. Fact is that golden eye WAS a great game, however its wank if you play it now. TS falls under that category too.

[Omgporn]

I didn't mean it as noobs or anything, I just meant it as they will have never played any other multiplayer game before hand.

[Lighty]

timesplitters was wank in my opinion.