DVD Talk Forum - Video Game Studio Closures

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Video Game Studio Closures

Not sure how well this will work, but decided to try an all in one thread for all and any studio closure news, especially given how often it seems to happen.

Anyway, first up....

2K Australia In Canberra Closes Its Doors

http://www.kotaku.com.au/2015/04/2k-...681.1418607542

Quote:

A source has just informed us that 2K Australia, the studio in Canberra that most recently brought us Borderlands: The Pre-Sequel, is closing its doors.

It was confirmed the entire studio is closing, and all staff members will lose their jobs. “All hands are gone,” said our source.

2K Canberra was the last major AAA-style studio operating out of Australia. The cost of operating out of Australia were apparently to blame for the decision.

Sources close to the situation informed us that, at one point, a move to Melbourne was being planned for the studio, in an attempt to help attract new talent to the studio. This allegedly caused many high levels members of the team to leave and that may have factored into 2K’s decision to shut down the studio.

They used to be part of Irrational so were involved with the Bioshock series, as well as The Bureau: XCOM Declassified as well.

Re: Video Game Studio Closures

http://www.polygon.com/2015/5/4/8548...imited-closure

Quote:

Los Angeles-based Spark Unlimited, the developer behind Lost Planet 3, Legendary and Yaiba: Ninja Gaiden Z, is no longer making games and has laid off all of its employees, a former employee of the company told Polygon today.

Spark Unlimited's closure was first noticed by a NeoGAF forum member who spotted the company's assets up for sale on asset liquidation site CMA Auctions.

John Butrovich, chief technical officer at Spark Unlimited, confirmed to Polygon that "it's the end of Spark as a game developer." Principal members of the studio "have decided to move on to other things," Butrovich said, and confirmed that Spark Unlimited co-founder Craig Allen resigned as president and CEO from the company late last year "to pursue other ventures and interests."

Butrovich said that Spark's in-development free-to-play game was canceled, as were other projects at the studio, leading to the company shutting down game development. Spark Unlimited still has ongoing revenue streams, Butrovich said, including a 2014 movie called Nightmare Code that the company produced, which are going to a trustee.

According to Butrovich, it sounds like former Spark Unlimited principals and employees will continue to work together on other projects outside of video games.

Spark Unlimited was founded in 2002, and released its first game, Call of Duty: Finest Hour, in 2004. Its most recent release was last year's poorly received action game Yaiba: Ninja Gaiden Z.