Christmas cheer became a somber holiday season for developers at Free Radical Design, as the studio was officially closed by its parent company, Embracer Group. This is the worst outcome and came at one of the worst times, and if you count the previous batch of 900 employees let go, it affects a lot of developers.
As first reported by VGC, the closure followed months of speculation and uncertainty. This uncertainty was fueled by disappointing financial results at Embracer and many Free Radical employees indicating they were seeking new jobs. While Embracer never publicly confirmed the closure, an internal email from Plaion VP, Worldwide Studios & Talent, Lars Jannsen, acknowledged that Free Radical Design would be closed on December 11, concluding a 30-day consultation process mandated by UK employment law.
“As we move through the consultation process and face the potential closure of Free Radical Design on 11 December 2023, I want to express my gratitude for your commitment and the remarkable work you’ve done and still keep doing.”
Lars Jannsen
The website now reads “404 Company Not Found :-(” which is a sad sight. This closure means the studio could not find a good solution in time. This news also ends all hope of TimeSplitters returning. It was believed that the Free Radical Design would bring back the TimeSplitters IP. This was backed by the fact that the original founders, Steve Ellis and David Doak, had returned. However, two years later, the dream of a new TimeSplitters game was for naught, and the series may be dead in the water now.
The closure of Free Radical Design leaves many developers searching for new employment and a community mourning the potential loss of a beloved franchise. As the dust settles on this unfortunate event, we hope that the developers affected by all of this find other employment and can care for their families. It is never easy for the industry to experience something like this.
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