If you click on a link and make a purchase we may receive a small commission. Read our editorial policy.

Embracer CEO reportedly confirms TimeSplitters studio facing closure in December

"This is a challenging time for all of us".

Embracer Group CEO Lars Wingefors has reportedly confirmed to employees that TimeSplitters studio Free Radical is facing closure next month, as part of a sweeping restructuring programme that has already resulted in more than 900 job cuts at the company.

Word that Free Radical - a studio resurrected in 2021 specifically to revive the beloved TimeSplitters franchise - was the latest developer to be impacted by parent company Embracer's restructuring first surfaced earlier this month in a report by VGC.

The publication's sources have now shared a company wide email from Wingefors confirming that Free Radical is currently engaged in a consultation process - as per UK employment law, employees must enter into a 30-day consultation process before redundancies can be made - that could result in the studio's closure next month.

Newscast: Are there too many video game remakes and remasters?Watch on YouTube

"As we move through the consultation process and face the potential closure of Free Radical Design on 11 December 2023," Wingefors reportedly wrote in his email to employees, "I want to express my gratitude for your commitment and the remarkable work you've done and still keep doing... This is a challenging time for all of us but especially for you, and our focus is to support you as much as we can during this transition."

While the possibility remains that the studio could be saved if Embracer receives an acquisition offer, it's unclear how likely an occurrence that will be.

Embracer Group began its devastating restructuring programme in May, following the collapse of a massive $2bn deal. So far, the cuts have resulted in layoffs at the likes of Tomb Raider developer Crystal Dynamics, Pinball FX developer Zen Studios, Mythforce developer Beamdog. Embracer has also shut down Studio Onoma (formerly Square Enix Montréal) and Saints Row developer Volition, and is reportedly looking to sell Borderlands studio Gearbox.

Embracer confirmed yet another round of layoffs earlier today after sources at Galaxy on Fire and Chorus developer Fishlabs informed Eurogamer that 50 positions out of 95 at the studio had been cut by Embracer management.

From Assassin's Creed to Zoo Tycoon, we welcome all gamers

Eurogamer welcomes videogamers of all types, so sign in and join our community!

In this article
Follow a topic and we'll email you when we write an article about it.

TimeSplitters

PS2

Related topics
About the Author
Matt Wales avatar

Matt Wales

News Reporter

Matt Wales is a writer and gambolling summer child who won't even pretend to live a busily impressive life of dynamic go-getting for the purposes of this bio. He is the sole and founding member of the Birdo for President of Everything Society.

Comments