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.
Alex C
Crap. Know someone that just moved to work for them too. Like a month ago.
colmshan1990
If Studio Liverpool pop up on a different system (and not PlayStation), I’m following them.
They have no competition in their genre, I can replace Uncharted & Killzone, I can’t replace WipEout.
element666
sad times,I throughly enjoyed the series.
cc_star
~18 months into the development of WipEout PS4 and the mystery PS4 new IP, said to be a mix of Splinter Cell & LA Noire.
Feckers!
sparkyscrum
I heard that too.
Does worry me what they will do with Wipeout PS4 now…..
And an original IP is never a bad thing especially when from a developer like these guys.
cc_star
WipEout PS4? Cancelled according to all the information out there.
Bizarre.
The Lone Steven
But Wipeout tends to do well doesn’t it? I can’t say that Studio Liverpool hasn’t released any crap as i only know that they have developed Wipeout. I do hope it’s just Sony closing down the studio only to rehire all of the staff under a new studio in an attempt to get rid of some of the debt. That said, they should start to look at other studios who have actually released a lot of crap and close them down.
Sitorimon
This seems utterly left field. Always quality games, some system sellers. Very strange move.
Nickboss1
So sad. I remember playing their games on my spectrum 128k.
stueeeee
Bad times. Feel sorry to the talent being wasted…
Who’s gonna make the next wipeout now??
hazelam
one thing i always remember the early Psygnosis games for, apart from the fact they were great games, is the beautiful artwork they had.
often had very little to do with the actual game, but they were still amazing.
you just don’t get cover art like that any more.