Reports are emerging, based on a comment made on the GRcade forum, that Sony is set to shutter the WipEout developer after cancelling all existing projects. Sony are apparently in the process of confirming this to other sites and we expect solid news through soon. Perhaps relocation is an option for the staff, although this isn’t the first UK-based studio that Sony has closed this year so their options for relocation are limited.
Studio Liverpool, formerly Psygnosis, have been such strong contributors to the PlayStation culture and brand since the very earliest days. This is horrendous news, the studio got some of the best visual output form the PS3, PSP and the Vita in recent years and was comprised of some of the most talented people in the UK’s development industry.
Sandy Lobban, a developer who worked on WipEout 2048 has tweeted “End of an era today for Studio Liverpool. Honoured to have been a part of it.” Will Maiden, who works for Evolution on Motorstorm RC also alluded to the closure via his twitter account, saying “Absolutely devastated to hear the sad news that Studio Liverpool is shutting its doors today. Good luck to all you guys.”
Our thoughts are with the incredibly talented people who may now find themselves looking for employment. We’re sure they’re certain to find happy and productive employment elsewhere soon, talent like that just doesn’t go to waste.
Bilbo_bobbins
Oh dear, this isn’t good. All I can think of is that the best people from these studios are being headhunted and employed seperately. Seems mad.
LTG Davey
Sad news but they have been releasing the same WipEout game pretty much this entire generation. Seems a good time to hang up the boots I suppose.
Greg Aldridge
With AAA titles getting more expensive and gamers wanting to pay less and less (and/or buy pre-owned) for them something’s got to give. What a shame this time it’s Psygnosis. Loved their pre-Sony boxart.
gazzagb
Jeez, Sony must now own just a handfull of 1st party devs in Europe, Media Molecule and Guerilla with then the London and Cambridge studios are the only ones I can think of.
Greg Aldridge
And Evolution:
http://www.worldwidestudios.net/locations
KeRaSh
What the fuck, Sony?
Can’t wait to see one of my favourite franchises getting butchered by whatever second class dev team Sony decides to throw at the franchise.
I hope everyone is able to find a new job soon. Good luck to everyone affected.
TSBonyman
That’s a shame, they’ve been around (Psygnosis) for as long as i can remember.
cam the man
Yep, really enjoyed the F1 games on PS2, most of the Wipout series, the Destruction Derby games, and others.
A sad day for gamers.
KeRaSh
Wait, Desturction Derby was made by those guys? Damn I loved that game… This saddens me even more…
seedaripper1973
I remember Psygnosis since my speccy days….this is terrible news :'(
fs
I just hope these guys get to keep their jobs – just get reshuffled a bit.
If not then I wish them all the best trying to find somethign elsewhere. It’s terrible at the moment.
Philbz
Gutted!
Philbz
A small part of my soul just died!
hazelam
damn, i’ve been playing their games since the old Amiga days, and some of their games back then were just amazing.
actually, they go right back to the old speccy days don’t they?
that’ll be a part of gaming history ending there.
i’m not sure what’s worse, this or what ms did with Rare, another studio from the early days.
a sad day for a long time gamer.