Rumor: Free Radical shut down
by David Hinkle 
{ Dec 18th 2008 at 1:43PM }
For those of us who desperately need a TimeSplitters 4 game, this rumor might be a bit hard to swallow. In fact, there's a very real chance you read the headline to this post and went into a murderous rage, destroying your computer monitor and turning your rage on the closest human being. It's okay, it made us feel the same way.The source of this rumor? Well, apparently the Nottingham, England-based Free Radical studio is in a bit of financial trouble, as GI.biz reports. They say that word has it the doors are locked, phones are shut off, and the team met at a nearby hotel for a "final company meeting." We're hoping this isn't the case, because we're pretty big fans of the studio's work, so we'll update when Free Radical makes a statement.
[Via Joystiq]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Disco Ball @ Dec 18th 2008 2:49PM
Their best game still is Goldeneye on the N64 imho...
wrc3 @ Dec 18th 2008 2:54PM
If this is true, then it truly is a sad day indeed. I was really looking forward to a new Timesplitters!
Mr Khan @ Dec 18th 2008 3:03PM
Hopefully this will help show Western developers the light. Unless you're heavily subsidized, you can't subsist on the HD Consoles.
Wesley Fenlon @ Dec 18th 2008 4:02PM
More likely it will show them that you can't spend a lot of money and put out a terrible product like Haze. The same thing's happening to Factor 5. It's hardly a death sentence for high definition game development.
I was looking forward to seeing what they were going to do with a new Timesplitters. Hopefully someone will buy them out or something.
Mr Khan @ Dec 18th 2008 4:23PM
Well yes, but it's not like they DELIBERATELY made Haze bad, just like Factor 5 didn't deliberately make Lair bad. Both were high-quality games on a technical standpoint and for production values, it was simply a case of the gameplay mechanics sucking, but that's rarely something they can control
I didn't say it's a death sentence, but certainly smaller studios like them should be looking at the Wii right now
PSIJunkie @ Dec 18th 2008 3:38PM
If this is true, I will cry.
DaisukeKiriyama @ Dec 18th 2008 4:26PM
Oh dear god, this can't happen.
I love Free Radical, they're one of the few companies that still makes good quality games for the TS franchise.
(Sega, I'm looking at you.)
Matias @ Dec 18th 2008 4:54PM
First clover and now Free Radical. I'm sad ;_;
I hope they save themselves like clover, that made platinum games.
Roman @ Dec 18th 2008 6:21PM
Aww, it's a sad day indeed. I really liked TimeSplitters.
RobinEivets @ Dec 18th 2008 8:34PM
It's been confirmed, check it out on Joystiq,
I'm seriosly upset, this saddens me...
And to think they had a recruitment link on their site.