It seems that, as first rumored in November, TimeSplitters studio Free Radical Design has been closed. The studio’s web site has been scrubbed and now bears a easy message saying “404 Firm not discovered :(,” whereas a number of workers have stated that at this time was their final day.
Free Radical was initially based in 1999 by ex-Uncommon builders, the creators of GoldenEye 007 and Excellent Darkish. Free Radical discovered success with its quirky shooter sequence TimeSplitters, which debuted in 2000 as a PlayStation 2 launch title, with additional sequels in 2002 and 2005. Though it by no means appeared on PC, TimeSplitters is held up as an underrated shooter of that period, with a humorous marketing campaign, arcadey taking pictures constructed on its GoldenEye pedigree, and an honest little map editor, for a PS2 sport.
Free Radical closed its doorways in 2014, a number of years after being acquired by Crytek. It was “reformed” by the Swedish holding firm Embracer Group beneath its Deep Silver division in 2021 to make a brand new TimeSplitters, however the failure of a $2 billion funding deal earlier this 12 months resulted in a number of layoffs and studio closures at Embracer.
Rumors of Free Radical’s “potential closure” had been reported in late November, leaving open the likelihood that the studio may be saved by a brand new proprietor, however that apparently did not come to go.
“Because the solar units on my final day at Free Radical Design, I really feel privileged to have had the chance to collaborate each with trade legends and with rising abilities who will little question form the way forward for the trade,” Free Radical QA supervisor Kevin Ellis wrote on LinkedIn. “Free Radical Design was a hub of creativity, however sadly, we be part of an ever-growing checklist of casualties in a damaged trade the place whole studios are handled as replaceable cogs in a soulless machine fixated on nothing however share costs.”
“Effectively, that is it, formally the ultimate day of our time at Free Radical Design and a complete studio (simply over 80 folks) is out of labor,” Daniel R. stated in a separate message. “It has been an absolute pleasure to work with everybody right here. There are some supremely gifted people who at the moment are in want of labor.”
“And it is over. My last day at Free Radical Design,” senior artist Mark Normington wrote on his LinkedIn web page. “It sees myself and simply over 80 folks out of labor on the worst time of 12 months for it to occur.”
“The final day at FRD was very completely different from what I imagined,” senior technical artist Adam Kiraly tweeted. “I do not suppose it sunk in correctly simply but, however handed my keys in and left the constructing the final time. It is Time to Break up.”
It has been an honor working with these lot for the previous 12 months. All of them are wonderful and gifted people that made working right here a lot enjoyable. It is unhappy to say goodbye like this.Wishing you all one of the best! pic.twitter.com/Gy3ZIWPNjSDecember 11, 2023
The Free Radical web site, which beforehand carried a “we’re hiring” message and listings of varied openings, has additionally modified. The hyperlinks are now not practical, and all that is left on the entrance web page is that this:
Neither Embracer Group nor Plaion, the division beneath which Free Radical operated, have commented publicly on the standing of the studio at this level. I’ve reached out for extra data and can replace if I obtain a reply.
