Rumor Has It That Free Radical Has Shut Its Doors

According to many different sources speaking to GamesIndustry.biz this morning, it is being reported that Free Radical Design has closed down and an unknown number of staff and senior executives have left already. One staff member even went so far as to tell GI.biz that when they showed up for work the doors were locked and a note on the door told them to go to a nearby hotel for a meeting. Why did that make me giggle a little? Sorry, being gutter minded here.

While it is indeed sad news to hear of another gaming studio shutting its doors, where does this leave the “unnamed” LucasArts project they have been quietly working on despite the deal with LucasArts going down the toilet back in October? Supposedly, the game has been sent to Rebellion to be worked on instead, the game was Star Wars Battlefront III. If that is the case, it is a good move because Rebellion, as you all know, were the masterminds behind the very popular Star Wars Battlefront: Renegade Squadron. However, that is still rumor at this point like I said, so just keep your shirts on.

You may recall that during the past few months, stirrings around the internet have claimed that trouble had been brewing at Free Radical for quite some time, with even the assumption that many changes and lay-offs were to happen at any day thanks to the parting of ways with LucasArts and the flop known as Haze. All of this was subsequently denied by the company’s director Steve Ellis, who like most higher-ups dismissed the accusations as false:

“Nothing unusual is happening here. Projects end. New projects start. That’s how things have worked for nearly 10 years. TimeSplitters 4 and an unnamed project are both still in development [along with] other unannounced projects, which are in the process of being signed. We certainly won’t be laying off any staff today. Or, for that matter, any time in 2008. If something happens in 2009 I’m sure we’ll be prepared to comment – but from where I’m sitting, whatever happens is far more likely to be positive than negative.”

As of this post, all calls to the Free Radical offices were yet to be returned and no word on whether or not we can expect an official announcement or press release soon has been divulged either. But, Edge apparently has some inside information on what went down during the hotel meeting. You can view that after the break.

I pulled this straight from the site instead of breaking it down for you:

Our source updated us with more inside information from the Free Radical staff meeting that took place at a hotel near the studio. Apparently, Free Radical knew the urgency of its situation six months ago. Co-founder Ellis was “visibly upset” when he talked to the staff, the source said. “[He] told staff how very sorry he was and they’d been doing all they could, working flat-out to either find a publisher or a buyer over the past six months, but no offers were made. There have been several visits to the States, but to no avail.” (This was for Timesplitters 4 -Steph)

About 20 staff members were offered positions, possibly with Ellis’ new venture, Pumpkin Beach, although this is yet to be confirmed. The rest of the employees were told in a separate room that they would be laid off. Staff had reportedly been paid to the end of December, but are not expected to receive any further compensation “as there was nothing left to give.”

Reps from U.K. game makers Codemasters and Monumental Games were at the hotel after the meeting asking for CVs and applications from former Free Radical staffers.

Hopefully, these guys can get a job soon. It sucks to be let go around any time, but especially around Christmas. We here at Gaming Today sympathize with them, and wish them nothing but the best of luck.