Steve Ellis, the co-founder of Free Radical Design, expressed his disappointment over the cancellation of the TimeSplitters reboot. Free Radical Design, which was re-established just two years prior, was closed in December as part of extensive cuts at Embracer and its subsidiaries. The closure halted the development of a new game in the TimeSplitters series.
In an interview with GamesIndustry.biz, Ellis, who also worked on the original TimeSplitters games, stated that the experience has likely marked the end of his involvement with the franchise. He voiced uncertainty regarding any future plans for the series under Plaion or Embracer, indicating that the cancellation was a significant letdown for him.
Ellis also mentioned the possibility of working on something outside of games but admitted that he tends to gravitate back towards game development, considering it his primary focus for nearly three decades.
Regarding leaked footage of TimeSplitters, Ellis clarified that it was from an older concept that the studio had moved away from before its closure. He emphasized the team’s enthusiasm for a different concept that they were actively pursuing at the time of the studio shutdown.
The closure of Free Radical Design came as a surprise to Ellis, who believed that the studio would be spared from Embracer’s mass layoffs and closures based on previous public statements from the company.
The cancellation of the TimeSplitters reboot marks a disappointing turn for fans of the series and underscores the challenges faced by developers in navigating the gaming industry’s volatile landscape.
Source: videogameschronicle.com
