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Ex-Bizarre devs Lucid tease possible reveal at next-gen Xbox event
Lucid Games, the UK independent studio formed by former Bizarre Creations staff in 2011, is teasing "mid-May" news of some kind, a window that happens to match up with the expected May 21 reveal of the next Xbox. A recent status update on the studio's Facebook page reads: "So yeah, Mid-May will be interesting for the studio. We have some exciting updates coming. Stay tuned!" On the same day, Lucid Games re-posted the above image, first published earlier this year. It clearly hints at a 2013 racing game set in London. Given the studio's origins and the timing, it's not a giant leap to say we may be looking at a new Project Gotham Racing game. Rumors of a return for PGR go as far back as 2010, when, according to a Develop source, it emerged Microsoft was looking for a European developer to take on the series. When approached, a Lucid Games spokesperson told us he "can't say anything at the moment."
Microsoft reportedly looking for new Project Gotham dev; Spencer wants 'the right opportunity and the right team'
When Bizarre Creations got gobbled up, its properties were scattered like so many crumbs across Activision's comically large bib. The Club rolled onto Sega's plate, Activision's tongue snatched up Geometry Wars and a nugget called Project Gotham Racing was left in front of Microsoft. Now, Develop reports that the first-party publisher is hunting for the perfect developer to turn that crumb into a new repast. Develop's source says that Microsoft is in talks with several European devs to take the license, seeming to indicate that Turn 10 (Forza) would not take the wheel, as has been previously rumored. When we spoke with Microsoft Game Studios boss Phil Spencer in September, he told Joystiq, "We don't have a developer for PGR," lending some credence to the story. Lending further credence: his affection for the series. "I love PGR," he told us. "We were talking about it just a couple months ago," Spencer continued. "We don't have any plans for it right now but I do know that most of our team that worked on PGR are still in the studio. So, at some point, I can still see us doing something with it if we find the right opportunity and the right team. We could make something happen." So, it's a hunt for developers then! If we were Microsoft, we'd work something out with Disney to bring on Brighton-based Black Rock Studio (Split/Second) to handle it, but you'd be shocked how rarely we're consulted on these things.
Rumor: PGR5 coming from Forza dev, could be announced next week
There's a rumor making the rounds today that Forza Motorsport studio Turn 10 is developing the next Project Gotham Racing, seeing as how series creator Bizarre Creations is now owned by Activision. This rumor sounds more than just a little familiar, don't cha think?The more rumor-y core of this new rumor is that, according to AddictGaming's "reliable source" at Turn 10, the game will be unveiled as early as next week. Of course, the site also mentions an impending New Xbox Experience announcement scheduled for next week, which sounds like part of the previously busted "360 relaunch" rumor.[Via X3F]
