Through all the pain and suffering of cancelled development, lacklustre game releases, bankruptcies, rescue deals and more, the studio formerly known as Free Radical Design (then Crytek UK and now Dambuster Studios) was separated from two of their most promising IPs. Now they’re being reunited by THQ Nordic*, who’ve picked up both the TimeSplitters and Second Sight IPs.
Klemens Kundratitz, CEO of Koch Media said, “We are hugely excited to have acquired Timesplitters. The original games gave fans a massive content offer and provided a pure and genuinely fun arcade shooter experience. We have many fans of the Timesplitters series among our own staff who are passionate about creating a product that will thrill todays gaming audience.”
The press release assures us that products based off both TimeSplitters and Second Sight will be revealed “in due course”, but it should be noted that THQ Nordic’s approach to their acquired licenses has often been to start with a remaster of some sort before then jumping in with a full sequel. So, TimeSplitters HD Collection, anyone?
*Even this repatriation isn’t simple. Dambuster Studios is published under the Deep Silver label, which is used by Koch Media. Koch Media were bought up earlier this year by THQ Nordic, which was known as Nordic Games prior to attaching the THQ trademark that they had acquired when that publisher had gone under back in 2013. Confused yet?
Source: press release
Foxhound_Solid
Ahhh memories. These were both mega titles on the PS2. Would love to see remasters and new offerings. Great games!
Tomhlord
Judging by THQ Nordic’s recent approach, I suspect these will be PS2 games with Trophies, released digitally, and not much more. Clever move if so, I know I’d pick them up.
What I’d really hope for is a full remaster of Timesplitters 2 and Second Sight, followed by all-new games, but trying not to get too excited.