Confirmed: Free Radical lets over 100 employees go
Well, it would appear all of our excitement over a fourth TimeSplitters game is for nothing, as the rumored layoffs at Free Radical are in fact true. The company has let go of 75% of its workforce, which equals 140 employees. The company, with its remaining 40 people, are up for sale, with several companies showing a "strong interest."We hope that what's left of Free Radical manages to land somewhere decent, because we've been fans of their work for some time now.
[Via Joystiq]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
milan @ Dec 26th 2008 3:51PM
I am going to believe that there is still going to be a positive future! I hope a cool company picks them up! I'd be down for Sega or something, but not EA. EA licks my balls.
Hardy @ Dec 26th 2008 3:59PM
People bash EA, but they are actually a really good company to be under.
EA themselves make crappy games, but some of the companies under their umbrella retain the freedoms they had as an independant.
Best example is Warhammer Online. They were allowed to do everything they want and I think the game turned out great.
I would prefer Sega however since they seem to be the only company willing to push out "hard core" games and not the family fun 30+ minigame craptastic crap.
esposch @ Dec 26th 2008 5:31PM
I think it's got more to do with the era of EA. When Larry Probst was in charge, they would buy entire studios and and retrench every single staff member just because they could. And they made crap games.
But John Riccitello EA (current CEO) actually involves decent games and even new IP (Dead space, Mirror's edge). I believe if EA bought Free Radical it wouldn't be such a bad thing, but Time Splitters 4 would definitley be on the HD consoles and PC. Not that anyone on this site should really care that much, as we all have PC's too.
Garst @ Dec 26th 2008 11:12PM
Should the blade on the guillotine be down and the cut had been a clean one?
icicle0424 @ Dec 28th 2008 2:16PM
they're going to have to start charging for that radical, instead of just giving it out for free...
they'll get picked up... I hope it's by someone good... and TS4 was being worked on, so I doubt they'll just scrap what they've got so far... although depending on who buys 'em out, it may get shelved...