EA is shutting down Visceral Studios
#1
DVD Talk Legend
Thread Starter
EA is shutting down Visceral Studios
This news sucks. I guess this also means no new Dead Space game anytime soon. I also wonder what this ultimately means for Amy Hennig. I'm guessing she is having second thoughts on leaving Naughty Dog. Expect a delay on that Star Wars game she was leading too since it's moving to a new team.
https://www.ea.com/news/an-update-on...r-wars-project
https://www.ea.com/news/an-update-on...r-wars-project
Last edited by mattysemo247; 10-17-17 at 04:05 PM.
#2
DVD Talk Godfather
Re: EA is shutting down Visceral Studios
Bummer about Visceral, although I never got around to playing Dead Space. Sounds like the Star Wars game they were working on had a lot of issues, and Battlefield Hardline being mediocre probably didn't help either.
#5
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#6
DVD Talk Legend
Re: EA is shutting down Visceral Studios
I guess every game must now be like Destiny 2 or other MP experiences to be fun. Give me Dark Forces reimagined any day of the week and I'll be happy.
#7
DVD Talk Legend
Re: EA is shutting down Visceral Studios
Shutting down studios isn't really a big deal. At the end of the day they are just doing contract work. Games Press likes to use hyperbole and theatrics to create villains out of parent companies for doing this. But it's just business and similar to a myriad of other industries.
#8
DVD Talk Godfather
Re: EA is shutting down Visceral Studios
I feel like I should clarify that despite today's Hot Takes, Visceral's game was not canned b/c it was single-player (from what I've heard)
— Jason Schreier (@jasonschreier) October 18, 2017
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#9
DVD Talk Godfather
Re: EA is shutting down Visceral Studios
Shutting down studios isn't really a big deal. At the end of the day they are just doing contract work. Games Press likes to use hyperbole and theatrics to create villains out of parent companies for doing this. But it's just business and similar to a myriad of other industries.
But you're right in that it's also a business and gamers also don't always see how projects, budgets, and profits turn out despite enjoying a particular game or two.
#10
Re: EA is shutting down Visceral Studios
I loved Dead Space 1 and 2. Even 3 was okay. Sounds like the Star Wars Video game is following in the footsteps of the newer movies with rewrites and big changes in the middle, etc.
#11
DVD Talk Hall of Fame
Re: EA is shutting down Visceral Studios
Dead Space 2 Only Sold 4 Million Copies and it Wasn't Enough, Says Ex-Visceral Dev
Zach Wilson, a former Visceral developer, took to Twitter shortly after the announcement of Visceral Games being shut down by EA, to reveal that Dead Space 2 underperformed in sales.
In a series of tweets, Wilson revealed that Dead Space 2 cost a staggering $60 million to make, excluding any additional costs such as marketing, production and retailer percentages, and it only managed to sell four million copies in total which wasn't enough for the studio.
The game underperformed in sales due to all the additional costs along with the fact that many of the copies would've been sold for less than full price. Wilson noted that he was speaking purely anecdotally as he doesn't know what the exact marketing budget was but estimates it's close to what the total development cost was.
full article https://www.xboxachievements.com/new...ceral-Dev.html
Zach Wilson, a former Visceral developer, took to Twitter shortly after the announcement of Visceral Games being shut down by EA, to reveal that Dead Space 2 underperformed in sales.
In a series of tweets, Wilson revealed that Dead Space 2 cost a staggering $60 million to make, excluding any additional costs such as marketing, production and retailer percentages, and it only managed to sell four million copies in total which wasn't enough for the studio.
The game underperformed in sales due to all the additional costs along with the fact that many of the copies would've been sold for less than full price. Wilson noted that he was speaking purely anecdotally as he doesn't know what the exact marketing budget was but estimates it's close to what the total development cost was.
full article https://www.xboxachievements.com/new...ceral-Dev.html
#12
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Re: EA is shutting down Visceral Studios
Jason Schreier’s comprehensive post-mortem is a must-read. Alas, it sounds like a mercy killing — an inevitability— rather than EA being sinister, cold, and calculating.
#13
Senior Member
Re: EA is shutting down Visceral Studios
Here's a video on shuttered EA-owned studios:
#14
DVD Talk Godfather
Re: EA is shutting down Visceral Studios
Jason Schreier’s comprehensive post-mortem is a must-read. Alas, it sounds like a mercy killing — an inevitability— rather than EA being sinister, cold, and calculating.
#15
DVD Talk Legend
Thread Starter
Re: EA is shutting down Visceral Studios
This news sucks. I guess this also means no new Dead Space game anytime soon. I also wonder what this ultimately means for Amy Hennig. I'm guessing she is having second thoughts on leaving Naughty Dog. Expect a delay on that Star Wars game she was leading too since it's moving to a new team.
https://www.ea.com/news/an-update-on...r-wars-project
https://www.ea.com/news/an-update-on...r-wars-project
https://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2...p-indie-studio
#17
DVD Talk Limited Edition
Re: EA is shutting down Visceral Studios
EA SPORTS Madrid Studio is announced, will work on NBA LIVE.
http://www.gamerevolution.com/news/4...rk-on-nba-live
http://www.gamerevolution.com/news/4...rk-on-nba-live
#18
DVD Talk Ultimate Edition
Re: EA is shutting down Visceral Studios
I'll never forgive them for destroying Mass Effect. The branching dialogues, moral choices, relationships, it was so much fun to play and then play over again. I thought games in the future were going to be even more incredible like this. Nope, didn't happen.
#20
DVD Talk Hall of Fame
Re: EA is shutting down Visceral Studios
Jade Raymond Has Departed EA Motive After Three Years
https://www.xboxachievements.com/new...ree-Years.html
Jade Raymond, founder of EA Motive has departed the studio, Electronic Arts has announced, making way for a new executive to take over as studio head. Raymond leaves EA Motive after three years overseeing the team, having joined following a long period with Ubisoft working on series like Assassin's Creed, Watch Dogs and Splinter Cell.
Samantha Ryan, who currently oversees EA's mobile department, The Sims studio Maxis, and BioWare, will take on responsibility for EA Motive in Montreal, as well as EA's North American studios, except for Respawn and EA Sports. Raymond had been working with EA Motive on an as yet untitled Star Wars game and contributed to development on Star Wars Battlefront II.
Samantha Ryan, who currently oversees EA's mobile department, The Sims studio Maxis, and BioWare, will take on responsibility for EA Motive in Montreal, as well as EA's North American studios, except for Respawn and EA Sports. Raymond had been working with EA Motive on an as yet untitled Star Wars game and contributed to development on Star Wars Battlefront II.
Spoiler: