TimeSplitters developer Free Radical Design closed its doors today, staff are now reporting via social media.

Photos and messages from Free Radical Design team members are now filtering onto X, formerly Twitter, as staff say farewell to the Nottingham-based studio.

This version of Free Radical Design was founded in 2021 to revive the TimeSplitters series, with various former staff members from the original games brought on board. But recent reports suggested it was now set for closure as part of this year's devastating layoffs affecting companies owned by umbrella corporation Embracer, with more than 50 staff set to lose their jobs.

"The last day at FRD was very different from what I imagined," senior tech artist Adam Kiraly wrote. "I don't think it sunk in properly just yet, but handed my keys in and left the building the last time."

Quoting Sgt Cortez's infamous line from TimeSplitters: Future Perfect, Kiraly concluded: "It's Time to Split."

"It's been a great two and a quarter years at Free Radical Design," senior artist Mark Normington wrote. "Sad to see us go. Onwards and upwards!"

"Gonna miss the folks at FRD 😔" added environment artist Deanna Gow. "Thank you and all the best for the future x"

Free Radical Design's company website is now mostly blank, other than the message: 404 Company Not Found :-(

Staff members have posted photos of the company's now-closed glass doors, Christmas snowflake decorations still visible from outside.

https://x.com/94Kiraly/status/1734217207687635005 (twitter post)

Source : https://www.eurogamer.net/timesplitters-studio-free-radical-design-closed-today-staff-say

TimeSplitters will return, courtesy of a fresh studio named Free Radical Design.

This Free Radical Design will be a new developer owned by publisher Deep Silver, with several key figures from the original developer.

In a statement published on Twitter this morning, Deep Silver said the company would be "headed up" by TimeSplitters co-creators Steve Ellis and David Doak, who were part of the core team from the original Free Radical Design's heyday.

Deep Silver also made it clear that work had not yet actually started on a new TimeSplitters game and that the studio was still being formed at present.

Here's today's statement in full:

"You asked and we listened. We have been working on plans to bring the TimeSplitters franchise back to life and are pleased to let you know that we are setting up a new Deep Silver development studio to do just that. Free Radical Design is reforming and will be headed up by industry and TimeSplitters veterans Steve Ellie and David Doak.

"This is an exciting first step in the process; development on a new game has not yet started and we will update you when we have more news to share."

Today's news is the most concrete sign of life in TimeSplitters for years, following various suggestions that the beloved series could still be resurrected, scrapped plans for a fourth entry and whispers of some kind of HD remake.

It has now been 16 years since the last full TimeSplitters game was released, but interest in the series still remains strong. Earlier this year, excitement was sparked among TimeSplitters fans when cheat codes surfaced to unlock more TimeSplitters 2 levels in Homefront: The Revolution.

Back in 2019, Deep Silver's parent company announced it was working with Steve Ellis to determine what might be next for TimeSplitters, although we had heard little since.

Source : https://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2021-05-20-deep-silver-has-founded-a-new-free-radical-design-to-work-on-timesplitters

The cheat code required to access the recently revealed full 4K Port of 'TimeSplitters 2' in 'Homefront: The Revolution' has been found.

visit
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=687109791
or
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2451736289

THQ Nordic has acquired the TimeSplitters and Second Sight IPs, the company announced. The acquisitions were made through Koch Media, a fully owned subsidiary of THQ Nordic.


Here is an overview of the TimeSplitters IP, via THQ Nordic:



While THQ Nordic did not share further information, it teased that “full details of future TimeSplitters and Second Sight products will be revealed in due course.”

Source : https://gematsu.com/2018/08/thq-nordic-acquires-timesplitters-second-sight

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6Ex2mJY5e0s&feature=youtu.be


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