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Crytek acquires Free Radical [update]
Free Radical's future just got a little less Haze-y (we know, sorry). We already knew that an announcement regarding the developers of the TimeSplitters series and Haze would be coming tomorrow, but we may have just skipped ahead to the ending. A single anonymous source had told us that Germany's Crytek – the developer behind the original Far Cry and Crysis – have acquired the UK-based Free Radical. While writing this very post, 1UP reported that Haze scriptwriter Rob Yescombe confirmed the very same thing. We're trying to get a comment from either party (or they can get a hold of us here!). It's not clear what the ramifications of this are: While Battlefront 3 is rumored to be in development at either Rebellion (in the UK) or Pandemic (in LA), the latest in Free Radical's longest-running series, TimeSplitters 4, could still be on the table. Of course, Crytek would have to make a few changes ... there's got to be some way they can fit the word "cry" into the title somewhere.[UPDATE] GamesIndustry.biz has confirmed via the administrators that the sale has gone ahead. As a result, 40 jobs have been saved. A formal announcement is expected later today, when we'll hopefully find out more details.
Free Radical's fate to be decided this week
If you're like us, then you remember the amazing GoldenEye 007 and those fun TimeSplitters games (and are trying to forget that Haze one). That's why the ongoing story of UK-based Free Radical touches us so deeply. We were hoping to get a new TimeSplitters game some day!Now, it looks like we'll know on Wednesday if that's to be, as ReSolve Partners, the restructuring administrator handling this dark time for Free Radical, has revealed that the fate of the company will be announced to one and all on February 4th. Hopefully, somebody ends up rescuing the company, because we'd hate to see Free Radical become permanently affixed to our layoffs tag. ReSolve has said that it's prepared to split up technology, IPs, and other assets if it cannot sell the company as a whole, or if the prospect of a more lucrative sale arises.
Rumor: Leaked footage of Star Wars Battlefront 3
Sporting a Free Radical logo watermark, a video of supposed Star Wars Battlefront 3 alpha footage has made its way onto YouTube and - if legit - gives us nearly six minutes of gameplay to drool over.The footage was supposedly shot during an "internal show and tell Alpha meeting" that took place in November and not only shows impressive visuals, but nifty gameplay elements including airborne combat that flows seamlessly from planet-level to space. It should be stated that the status of Battlefront 3 is still relatively unknown thanks to the predicament developer Free Radical is in.[Via Joystiq]
Rumor: 'Leaked' footage shows Star Wars Battlefront 3 in action [update]
A video posted on YouTube purportedly shows gameplay from an alpha version of Star Wars Battlefront III. Indeed, the footage -- while low in quality -- appears legitimate, with its poster reporting that it "was taken in an internal show and tell Alpha meeting back in November."Watermarked with a Free Radical logo -- much like pre-release builds of Haze were -- the game appears very similar in mechanics to Star Wars Battlefront II, albeit with dramatically improved visuals (particularly in the area of screen-rocking special effects). Elements of note include airborne combat that seamlessly transitions from a planet's atmosphere into space, the presence of a playable "old" Ben Kenobi (on what appears to be Tatooine) and even playable Ewoks. There's still no word on the fate of the game given Free Radical's current predicament, but this footage -- if authentic -- has us hoping Jedi meditating that the dev's work so far doesn't go to waste. See the video for yourself after the break.[Update: YouTube has removed the video at the request of Lucasfilm. GameVideos' version can be found after the break.][Via GameVideos]
Chopped up or whole: Free Radical for sale
ReSolve Partners, which is handling the administration of Free Radical's dire situation, continues its mantra that there's "stong interest" in the company from buyers. A ReSolve spokesperson told GI.biz that the chop shop company is trying to sell Free Radical whole, but will cut the piggy up if it'll bring in more cash. ReSolve expects to know in the next ten days what pieces potential suitors are interested in picking off from the studio's still-twitching remains. If ReSolve gets lucky, a company will buy the whole hog.Free Radical currently holds several IPs, including TimeSplitters, Second Sight and Haze. We're going to go out on a limb and say that corporate bargain bin shoppers are probably interested in only two of those IPs (Hint: It's not Haze).
Star Wars Battlefront 3 renders revealed by former Free Radical artist
3D artist Richard Smith – one of 140 employees of Time Splitters (and ... Haze) developer, Free Radical, laid off as the company went belly-up-for-sale – posted images from some of his modeling work on Star Wars Battlefront III on his personal blog. Or, shall we say, what could have been Star Wars Battlefront III.The renders have since been pulled; lucky thing the internet is faster than the Millennium Falcon making the Kessel Run. Apparently, Smith was working on concepts for Han Solo (above) and a bounty hunter named Shara. Two of the images carry a game logo and are dated 2007, indicating that Battlefront III had been in development for some time prior to Free Radical's demise. Development on the game is now rumored to continue at UK-based Rebellion, which just so happens to have created Star Wars Battlefront: Renegade Squadron for PSP. [Via X3F]Source – Richard Smith (blog)Source – Rebellion Battlefront III reports aren't wrong (Videogamer.com)
Former Free Radical employee leaks original Star Wars: Battlefront III renders
Former Free Radical employee Richard Smith has uploaded original renders created for the company in 2007 as part of the production for Star Wars: Battlefront III to his personal blog. The very early renders include images of Han Solo and Sahra The Bounty Hunter. Smith, along with over 75% of his coworkers, was recently laid off from as the developer attempts to sell its studio. Free Radical had previously developed the TimeSplitters series and the poorly received PS3-exclusive Haze.According to a report on Videogamer.com, an unnamed inside source has told the site production of Star Wars: Battlefront III has been taken from Free Radical Design and placed in the hands of Oxford-based Call of Duty: World at War (PS2) developer Rebellion who also developed the 1999 sensation, Alien vs. Predator.%Gallery-40253%
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]
Confirmed: Free Radical lays off 140, 'For Sale' sign posted
It's now official: As of December 31, Free Radical will be 140 employees smaller, which is just over 75% of its workforce. The company and its remaining 40 or so members are now on sale with several companies showing "strong interest," according to the firm brought in to help with downsizing (who in our minds look a lot like the Bobs from Office Space). With the industry death toll rising, our hearts go out to all the developers (and everyone else, for that matter) who faced the tragic, proverbial / literal pink slip this year.
Report: Free Radical fails to find buyer, staff laid off
Further details surrounding Free Radical's financial woes have arisen, with Edge sources revealing that employees would no longer receive compensation after December, as there would be "nothing left to give." Free Radical's co-founder, Steve Ellis, reportedly delivered the bad news in a nearby hotel after employees found their office doors locked. According to Edge's latest update, said bad news entailed failed attempts by the Haze developer to find a publisher or buyer, both locally and abroad. The source claims that twenty former employees were offered different positions -- possibly at Ellis' new venture, Pumpkin Beach -- whilst others were laid off and redirected to reps from Codemasters and Monumental Games. A separate report from GamesIndustry.biz, however, notes that "40 people are still working in the Free Radical offices, mainly on game concepts, and should be there into the New Year." It's still unclear what exactly transpired, but one thing's for certain: We feel kinda bad about this mean post now.Source -- Source: Free Radical Locked UpSource -- Administrator Confirms Free Radical Demise
'Significant interest' shown in purchasing Free Radical
Though we heard a number of reports on Thursday stating otherwise, it seems that TimeSplitters and Haze developer Free Radical has yet to shuffle off this mortal coil. Things are apparently not as grim as the initial reports suggested -- well, okay, they were recently refused entry into their office, and have officially gone into "administration", which many would consider quite grim indeed. However, if the most recent report on the matter is to be believed, all hope is not lost for the once-Rad developer.According to an employee at ReSolve, the administrator for Free Radical, there's already been a great deal of interest shown from publishers who want to purchase the developer, acquiring their assets and (remaining) employees. This interest largely stems from two undisclosed projects the developer had under their wing during their collapse, which many believe to be new entries into the Timesplitters and Star Wars Battlefront franchises. The rumored involvement of Battlefront is enough for us to hold out hope for an old-fashioned Christmas miracle.
Rumor: Free Radical shut down
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]
Rumor: Free Radical Design closes shop
It's being reported by various UK based news sites that Free Radical, developer of the TimeSplitters series and Haze, has closed its doors for good. No one has received confirmation from the developer either way, as they don't seem to be answering their phones, but judging from anecdotal evidence, it's not looking good. Forum-goers over at Eurogamer are saying that the locks on the doors have been changed and Develop's sources are saying "something" happened at the developer this morning.Develop is posturing that the closure, if true, is probably a result of Haze being a commercial and critical flop. Not only that, but the word is that their Lucasarts collaberation (Star Wars BattleFront 3) is reported to have been cancelled and they were having trouble finding a publisher for TimeSplitters 4. Sadly, it seems that game will now never see the light of day. We'll update this story as soon as we get confirmation either way but, as we say, it's not looking good. It's a sad day and we feel for anyone who has lost their job -- especially this close to Christmas.[UPDATE] We've received confirmation that Free Radical has, indeed, closed its doors. This is no longer a rumor. GameIndustry.biz is reporting that Star Wars Battlefront 3 has been passed on to PSP Battlefront developer Rebellion.
Free Radical closes shop [update]
The haze is lifting and numerous UK gaming outlets are reporting that Free Radical, based in Nottingham, England, has shut down. The studio has yet to confirm, but according to sources: the doors are locked, phones aren't being answered, and the staff met at a nearby hotel today for a "final company meeting."Free Radical's last project was the critical and commercial failure, Haze. TimeSplitters 4 and an unannounced project (believed to be Star Wars: Battlefront III) were currently in development at the studio. We'll update as soon as the studio makes a statement.Update: Confirmed. [Via videogaming247]
Free Radical teases Wii gamers some more
Early last month, Free Radical put a poll up on their site asking folks which platform they would want to see TimeSplitters 4 on. Wii actually ended up winning the poll and now Free Radical has put up something new on their site.Now, they've got a new poll up on their site, focusing on the Wii. While we're all for gathering information (hey, it's what we do), we have on simple request: just get to work on TimeSplitters4 already! Please? We'll, uh, draw you a picture of a unicorn or something.[Thanks, Sonic_13!]
Free Radical asks us to vote on TimeSplitters 4 platform
Free Radical, the folks behind the TimeSplitters games and former Rare employees responsible for GoldenEye 007, have tossed up a poll on their website asking one and all which platform they'd like to see TimeSplitters 4 release on. We all know it's coming, they know we know and now are asking us which system we prefer? At the time of writing this post, it looks like more people would like to see the thing release on PS3, but the system isn't winning by that much.If you want TimeSplitters 4 on Wii, we'd suggest you head over there and make your voice heard. If you don't know what TimeSplitters 4 is, then we suggest you play all of the previous games or, in the least, the best title in the series. We just hope the new game still has a level editor.Oh, and they also have some artwork up on their site, featuring a cat on wheels and one hot chainsaw-toting nun.[Thanks, hvnlysoldr!]
Timesplitters 4 teaser: Revenge of the Simian
"Every game has a sequel." Oh, if only that were true. In the case of Timesplitters: Future Perfect, however, it is. Timesplitters 4 is well and truly in production. We're happy about it, but not as optimistic as we might have been before a certain narcotic-and-war-condemning title was released over Summer. Still, our hopes are high that Free Radical's next project will be a little less pretentious and a little more fun, like other Timesplitters games were. A new video has appeared on the Free Radical website. It doesn't show a lot but, like the first teaser, it shows of more what we can expect from the game; monkeys and pop-culture parody. While the video is cute (particularly the very end), we desperately want to see some actual game footage. Still, a monkey in a suit is better than nothing. Right?
PS3 Fanboy review: Haze
Developed by Free Radical, the ex-Rare employees responsible for the excellent Timesplitters series, Haze has been a long time coming. The game has suffered from multiple delays as well as exclusivity confusion over the last year. Haze promised to deliver an immersive story, balanced multiplayer and seamless online and offline co-op play. It was also backed up by some excellent live-action trailers.Unfortunately, it becomes apparent whilst playing the game that, while the team at Free Radical may have reached for excellence, they have either fallen short or made some bad decisions with regards to the execution of many aspects of the title. Haze isn't a bad game and, despite some shortcomings, can be enjoyable and thought provoking. But is it as good as the hype suggested? Frankly, no. Read on to find out why.%Gallery-8168%
Stick it to the reviews: buy a real Haze outfit, be a Mantel soldier
Tired of hearing bad things about Haze? Played the game and thought it wasn't all that bad? Or just looking for a new outfit that just screams "you"? Check out Universal Designs' new Haze Costume: now you can be a Mantel soldier overdosing on some mad Nectar (sold separately in your neighborhood grocer; the label says Honey just to trick the masses). Our only issue is a design flaw meant to keep you comfortable: the helmet is insanely huge compared to the cranium-hugging ones in the video game. Otherwise, nice.
