Sony has confirmed (via GameIndustry.biz) they’re shuttering the UK-based internal studio Guerrilla Cambridge.
The publisher said the need to shut the studio down is “regrettable,” as the decision came from a full review of all the current projects being worked on across PlayStation consoles. The assessed that “in order to deliver on our strategic objectives, it is necessary to make some changes to the European studios structure.”
The developer was primarily known for the classic MediEvil series on the original PlayStation, and most recently put out the ambitious PlayStation VR title RIGS: Mechanized Combat League. Founded back in 1997, the studio was acquired by Sony and later restructured as a subsidiary of Guerrilla Games.
Sony confirmed that no other studios will be affected, however all Cambridge employees will be laid off, with Sony attempting to reallocate them to other projects if possible. They’ve also pledged to help assist former employees find work in other local studios.
Here’s a bit more of Sony’s statement:
“Whilst we accept that this decision will mean that we risk losing high calibre staff, by focusing on other Studios with exciting new projects in development, (including continued work on PlayStation VR), we believe we will be in a stronger position going forward and able to offer the best possible content of the highest quality to our players.”
“This decision should not take anything away from the incredible games and services that Guerrilla Cambridge has delivered.”
wombat
January 12, 2017 at 9:20 amMaybe focusing on VR isn’t a good idea, eh.
Mr0303
January 12, 2017 at 9:24 amThat’s a shame. Hopefully the employees will find work quickly. With their experience in VR they will be valuable assets.
AR7777
January 12, 2017 at 9:30 amMedievil was such a great game, one of my favorites on PSX
2501
January 12, 2017 at 9:53 amAnother one bites the dust.
2501
January 12, 2017 at 9:54 amAnother Sony studio that bites the dust.
Ninjagai
January 12, 2017 at 10:07 amDamn, I actually held out hope for another Medievil game.
Will3316
January 12, 2017 at 10:08 amVR is an interesting idea, but it’s just a gimmick that publishers are pushing to the moon.
Donwel
January 12, 2017 at 10:10 amAside from London studio, do Sony have any UK studios left?
They shut down Liverpool studio about 6 or 7 years ago, Evolution in Runcorn was last year, now Guerrilla. I’m sure they shut one down in Brighton a couple of years back as well.
R.Hoffmann
January 12, 2017 at 10:49 amGood luck to all of them getting new similar well paid jobs elsewhere and that some of them might be able to create a spiritual MediEvil successor via crowdfunding.
Similar to the guys from Playtonic that are creating Yoka Laylee now and are mostly developers from Rare before it was bought by Microsoft.
In fact, a lot of small indie studios were founded after the big companies closed the parent studios.
Just think at the Ex Criterion guys (Three Fields Entertainment) that are working on a Burnout successor while EA basically killed Criteron before.
ps: To be honest, MediEvil 1+2 were the only of their games I ever bought.
totenglocke
January 12, 2017 at 10:50 amGive it until the end of the year and people should be done with VR fad 2.0.
totenglocke
January 12, 2017 at 10:51 amWhat do you mean?! Of course everyone wants a walking simulator with a phone strapped to their face!
R.Hoffmann
January 12, 2017 at 10:52 amSIE Manchester Studio which was founded in 2015 and did not release any games yet..as far as I know , Media Molecule, London Studio (Mostly known for the SingStar games)
2501
January 12, 2017 at 11:04 amI hope something like that that happens, i have fond memories of the MediEvil series.
R.Hoffmann
January 12, 2017 at 11:06 amSame here, Sir Fortesque was a lovely game character that should and I am sure the guys behind him can create of that kind
Donwel
January 12, 2017 at 11:12 amShit, I forgot about Media Molecule.
l also didn’t know there was a studio in Manchester. I acually used to live around the corner from the Liverpool studio in Wavertree and would chat to some of the guys who worked there when I was waiting for the train.
PixelBuff
January 12, 2017 at 11:21 amI remember seeing a commercial for Medievil on TV and my young naive self thinking we had reached the pinnacle of graphics.
Who knows, maybe they will reform into another studio ala Studio Liverpool.
Cael
January 12, 2017 at 11:22 amRIP MediEvil HD
Travis Touchdown
January 12, 2017 at 12:08 pmSony can bang on about how well PS4 is selling all they want. Shutting down all these studios indicates what’s really going on.
Uncle Ocelot
January 12, 2017 at 1:34 pmI wonder what this means for PSVR, RIGS was one of the big launch games.
NuclearKangaroo
January 12, 2017 at 2:16 pmits regrettable to see this, that being said, did the studio not deliver any noteworthly products besides medievil back in the 90s?
CrimsonColossus
January 12, 2017 at 3:23 pm“B-but the video game industry is more successful than it’s ever been !!1!”
If this goes on any longer, Naughty Dog will be the only Sony 1st party studio left.
? Jokerino ✓ᵛᵉʳᶦᶠᶦᵉᵈ
January 12, 2017 at 3:44 pmDamn so no chance of ever getting a MediEvil game now. They did a great job on making one the best FPS for the Vita portable system, Killzone Mercernary and a great VR experience, RIGS. I hope they find a new job that’ll accept their talents.
Pillbugable
January 12, 2017 at 4:51 pmTo be fair, RIGS was more than a walking simulator. I don’t know how good it ended up being, though.
Fenrir007
January 12, 2017 at 5:24 pmI think focusing on VR for consoles is gonna tank hard just like how wagglan tanked in the post-Wii world. On the PC-land it will survive thanks to porn and better processing power / peripherals (but mostly porn).
tccboss
January 12, 2017 at 5:42 pmDamn that sucks.