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List of studios closed since 2006 - Updated

Kifimbo

Member
Many of you will remember this thread from last year: http://www.neogaf.com/forum/showthread.php?t=459131

It was bumped again today because of layoffs at Visceral Games Montreal. Felt it was a good moment to update it. During the year, several people asked me to post the same list chronologically (by year) instead of alphabetically. Therefore, below you'll find the updated list twice. Again, I won't pretend it's an exhaustive list, and your help is welcome.

Another thing: many people said the list was depressing and rightly argued it was only one side of a medal. What about the dozens of new studios ? I'm working on something that will show there are hundreds of studios alive, and a lot of them opened in the last few years. It's not yet ready, but should be soon.


38 Studios - 2012
3D Realms - 2009
4mm Games - 2012
7 Studios (Activision) - 2011
ACES Studio (Microsoft) - 2009
Action Forms - 2009
Artech Studios - 2011
Arkedo - 2013
Ascaron - 2009
Atomic Elbow - 2008
Backbone Vancouver
Beam Software/Melbourne House - 2010
BigBig (Sony) - 2012
Big Huge Games - 2012
BioWare San Francisco (EA2D) - 2013
Bizarre Creations (Activision) - 2010/2011
Black Hole Entertainment - 2012
Black Rock (Disney) - 2011
Blue Fang Games - 2011
Blue Tongue (THQ) - 2011
BottleRocket - 2009
Brash Entertainment - 2008
Budcat (Activision) - 2010
Carbonated Games - 2008
Castaway Entertainment - 2008
Cavia - 2010
Cheyenne Mountain - 2010
Cing - 2010
Clover Studios (Capcom) - 2006
Codemasters Guildford - 2011
Cohort Studios - 2011
Concrete Games - 2008
Dark Energy Digital - 2012
Deep Silver Vienna - 2010
DICE Canada - 2006
Digital Anvil - 2006
EA Chicago - 2007
EA Bright Light - 2011/2012
EA Japan - 2007
Eden Games - 2012
Eidos Manchester - 2009
Eidos Hungary - 2010
Empire Interactive - 2009
Ensemble Studios (Microsoft) - 2008
Étrange Libellules - 2012
Eurocom - 2012
Factor 5 - 2009
FASA (Microsoft) - 2007
Fizz Factor - 2009
Flagship Studios - 2008
Flight Plan - 2010
Frozen North Productions
Funcom Beijing - 2013
FuzzyEyes - 2009
Gaia
Gamelab - 2009
Game Republic - 2011
GRIN - 2009
Groove Games - 2010
Gutso Games
HB Studios Halifax - 2012
Helixe (THQ) - 2008
Hogrocket - 2012
Hudson Entertainment - 2011
Hudson Soft - 2012
Humannature Studio (Nexon Vancouver) - 2009
Ignition London - 2010
Ignition Florida - 2010
ImaginEngine - 2012
Impossible Studios - 2013
Incognito Entertainment (Sony) - 2009
Indie Built (Take-Two) - 2006
Iron Lore - 2008
Jerry Bruckheimer Games - 2013
Juice Games (THQ) - 2011
Junction Point - 2013
Kaos Studios (THQ) - 2011
Killaware - 2011
Killspace Entertainment - 2011
KMM Brisbane - 2011
Kuju Manila - 2009
Kuju Chemistry - 2009
Kush Games - 2008
Locomotive Games (THQ) - 2010
Loose Cannon Studios - 2010
LucasArts - 2013
Luxoflux - 2010
Mass Media (THQ) - 2008
Monte Cristo - 2010
Monumental Games - 2012
Midway Austin - 2009
Midway Newcastle - 2009
MTV Games - 2011
Multiverse - 2012
NetDevil - 2011
Ninja Studio - 2009
Nihon Telenet - 2007
Outerlight - 2010
Outspark - 2013
PAM Development (Take-Two) - 2008
Pandemic Australia (EA) - 2009
Pandemic LA (EA) - 2009
Paradigm Entertainment - 2008
Pi Studios - 2011
Pivotal Games (Take-Two) - 2008
PopCap Dublin - 2012
Propaganda Games (Disney) - 2011
Pseudo Interactive - 2008
Radical Entertainment - 2012
Rainbow Studios (THQ) - 2011
Razorworks - 2009
Reakktor Media - 2012
Realtime Worlds - 2010
Rebellion Derby - 2010
Red Octane - 2010
Redtribe - 2008
Rockstar Vienna - 2006
Sandblast Games (THQ) - 2008
SEGA San Francisco - 2010
Sega Studios Australia - 2013
Sensory Sweep Studios - 2010
Seta - 2008
Shaba Games (Activision) - 2009
SideCar Studios - 2007
Sierra Online - 2008
Snapdragon Games - 2009
SOE Denver - 2011
SOE Seattle - 2011
SOE Tuscon - 2011
Sony Liverpool - 2012
Spellbound Entertainment - 2012
Stormfront Studios - 2008
Straylight Studios - 2009
Team Bondi - 2011
Tecmo Koei Canada - 2013
The Code Monkeys - 2011
Titan Studios - 2009
THQ Australia - 2009
THQ Digital Warrington - 2009
THQ San Diego - 2012
Transmission Games/IR Gurus - 2009
Ubisoft Brazil - 2010
Ubisoft Vancouver - 2012
Underground Development/Z-Axis (Activision) - 2010
Universomo (THQ) - 2009
Venom Games (Take Two) - 2008
Vicarious Visions California - 2007
Vigil Games - 2013
Visceral Australia (EA) - 2011
Visceral Games Montreal - 2013
Wizarbox - 2013
Wolfpack Studios - 2006
Yuke’s Company Of America - 2010
Zipper Interactive - 2012
Zoe Mode London - 2009
Zoonami - 2011
Zynga Austin - 2013
Zynga Boston - 2012
Zynga East (Baltimore) - 2013
Zynga Japan - 2013
Zynga McKinney - 2013
 

Kifimbo

Member
Pending: Visceral Games Montreal.

2013
Sega Studios Australia - 2013
LucasArts - 2013
Visceral Games Montreal - 2013
BioWare San Francisco (EA2D) - 2013
Jerry Bruckheimer Games - 2013
Tecmo Koei Canada - 2013
Arkedo - 2013
Funcom Beijing - 2013
Impossible Studios - 2013
Junction Point - 2013
Outspark - 2013
Vigil Games - 2013
Wizarbox - 2013
Zynga Austin - 2013
Zynga Boston - 2012
Zynga East (Baltimore) - 2013
Zynga Japan - 2013
Zynga McKinney - 2013

2012
38 Studios - 2012
4mm Games - 2012
BigBig (Sony) - 2012
Big Huge Games - 2012
Black Hole Entertainment - 2012
Dark Energy Digital - 2012
EA Bright Light - 2011/2012
Eden Games - 2012
Étrange Libellules - 2012
Eurocom - 2012
Gutso Games - 2012
HB Studios Halifax - 2012
Hogrocket - 2012
Hudson Soft - 2012
ImaginEngine - 2012
Monumental Games - 2012
Multiverse - 2012
PopCap Dublin - 2012
Radical Entertainment - 2012
Reakktor Media - 2012
Sony Liverpool - 2012
Spellbound Entertainment - 2012
THQ San Diego - 2012
Ubisoft Vancouver - 2012
Zipper Interactive (Sony) - 2012
Zynga Boston - 2012

2011
7 Studios (Activision) - 2011
Artech Studios - 2011
Bizarre Creations (Activision) - 2010/2011
Black Rock (Disney) - 2011
Blue Fang Games - 2011
Blue Tongue (THQ) - 2011
Codemasters Guildford - 2011
Cohort Studios - 2011
Frozen North Productions - 2011
Game Republic - 2011
Hudson Entertainment - 2011
Juice Games (THQ) - 2011
Kaos Studios (THQ) - 2011
Killaware - 2011
Killspace Entertainment - 2011
KMM Brisbane - 2011
MTV Games - 2011
NetDevil - 2011
Pi Studios - 2011
Propaganda Games (Disney) - 2011
Rainbow Studios (THQ) - 2011
SOE Denver - 2011
SOE Seattle - 2011
SOE Tuscon - 2011
Team Bondi - 2011
The Code Monkeys - 2011
Visceral Australia (EA) - 2011
Zoonami - 2011

2010
Beam Software/Melbourne House - 2010
Budcat (Activision) - 2010
Cavia - 2010
Cheyenne Mountain - 2010
Cing - 2010
Deep Silver Vienna - 2010
Eidos Hungary - 2010
Flight Plan - 2010
Groove Games - 2010
Ignition Florida - 2010
Ignition London - 2010
Locomotive Games (THQ) - 2010
Loose Cannon Studios - 2010
Luxoflux - 2010
Monte Cristo - 2010
Outerlight - 2010
Realtime Worlds - 2010
Rebellion Derby - 2010
Red Octane - 2010
SEGA San Francisco - 2010
Sensory Sweep Studios - 2010
Ubisoft Brazil - 2010
Underground Development/Z-Axis (Activision) - 2010
Yuke’s Company Of America - 2010

2009
3D Realms - 2009
ACES Studio (Microsoft) - 2009
Action Forms - 2009
Ascaron - 2009
BottleRocket - 2009
Eidos Manchester - 2009
Empire Interactive - 2009
Factor 5 - 2009
Fizz Factor - 2009
FuzzyEyes - 2009
Gamelab - 2009
GRIN - 2009
Humannature Studio (Nexon Vancouver) - 2009
Incognito Entertainment (Sony) - 2009
Kuju Manila - 2009
Kuju Chemistry - 2009
Midway Austin - 2009
Midway Newcastle - 2009
Ninja Studio - 2009
Pandemic Australia (EA) - 2009
Pandemic LA (EA) - 2009
Razorworks - 2009
Shaba Games (Activision) - 2009
Snapdragon Games - 2009
Straylight Studios - 2009
Titan Studios - 2009
THQ Australia - 2009
THQ Digital Warrington - 2009
Transmission Games/IR Gurus - 2009
Universomo (THQ) - 2009
Zoe Mode London - 2009

2008
Atomic Elbow - 2008
Brash Entertainment - 2008
Carbonated Games - 2008
Castaway Entertainment - 2008
Concrete Games - 2008
Ensemble Studios (Microsoft) - 2008
Flagship Studios - 2008
Helixe (THQ) - 2008
Iron Lore - 2008
Kush Games - 2008
Mass Media (THQ) - 2008
PAM Development (Take-Two) - 2008
Paradigm Entertainment - 2008
Pivotal Games (Take-Two) - 2008
Pseudo Interactive - 2008
Redtribe - 2008
Sandblast Games (THQ) - 2008
Seta - 2008
Sierra Online - 2008
Stormfront Studios - 2008
Venom Games (Take Two) - 2008

2007
EA Chicago - 2007
EA Japan - 2007
FASA (Microsoft) - 2007
Nihon Telenet - 2007
SideCar Studios - 2007
Vicarious Visions California - 2007

2006
Clover Studios (Capcom) - 2006
DICE Canada - 2006
Digital Anvil - 2006
Indie Built (Take-Two) - 2006
Rockstar Vienna - 2006
Wolfpack Studios - 2006
 
Visceral Games Montreal - 2013
Funcom Beijing - 2013
Impossible Studios - 2013
Junction Point - 2013
Outspark - 2013
Vigil Games - 2013
Wizarbox - 2013
Zynga Japan - 2013

Two months in, and already some great studios closed...

This year is going to be rough...
 

FourMyle

Member
Wow. Outspark closed? that is pretty interesting to me. They have been around the F2P MMO market for a long time and delivered some nice titles.
 
There will always be new studios to replace them and much of the talent will shift to them. However will they want to take financial gambles with development? The devs I know all say no after having been in such a scenario.
 

ASTROID2

Member
Team ico has the easiest job on the planet. Haven't released a game since 2006 yet their still in business while Liverpool gets closed. I'll never understand this business. Sad to see so many devs go out of business.
 

fvng

Member
Team ico has the easiest job on the planet. Haven't released a game since 2006 yet their still in business while Liverpool gets closed. I'll never understand this business. Sad to see so many devs go out of business.


They're not sitting there twiddling their thumbs. The only reason that team hasn't been let go is because they're working on a highly anticipated game that will sell tons of PS4 hardware the day it drops

Studio Liverpool never developed a killer app
 

strikeselect

You like me, you really really like me!
dayum...

vTq4qCy.jpg
 

Kifimbo

Member
Can we get a zombie expansion to the OP with lists of shambling developers who're now nothing more than soulless shells of their former selves?

I'd rather stay factual. Because, just to give an example, some will put Rare in your "shambling developers" definition, others will disagree, and this thread will get ugly.
 

Mario

Sidhe / PikPok
There will always be new studios to replace them and much of the talent will shift to them. However will they want to take financial gambles with development? The devs I know all say no after having been in such a scenario.

Well, yes and no. There are a lot of people who left the industry this gen. And while many who were laid off founded new studios (a lot of indie and mobile efforts), a lot of those have failed too.

Thankfully, there is always a flow of fresh talent into the industry and growth in areas outside of console dev is improving the sustainability of fledging studios.

It is the best of times. It is the worst of times. But mostly it is the best of times.
 

Soul_Pie

Member
Right in the feels, it's a brutal industry obsessed with the bottom line.

Rare may as well be dead as well having being gutted last time I heard.

The worst thing about some of these closures was that they were still making brilliant games right up until their demise.

Best thing we can do is support the developers we love and hope for the best.
 

Opiate

Member
We can't do that, we need more doom and gloom.

The OP has already mentioned this, repeatedly.

I expect there to be a lot of studios opening. However, just as there is very evidently a higher incidence of console studios closing, I expect the majority of the studios opened over the last 6 years to be focused on portables, phones, indie/browser PC, or tablets.
 

Kifimbo

Member
Yeah, this one is wrong. Some projects got cancelled, but the studio has not closed down.

Microsoft Vancouver was working on Kinect games. Projects were cancelled. As far as I know, the remaining team was "merged" with Black Tusk Studios. It's a tough one.
 

fvng

Member
ND Cube man. It was stupid Konami merging it into their studios.

Wait what? Why is Konami stupid for buying a company that was about to die? If anything they saved jobs having merged staffs. Does everyone here irrationally knee jerk hate every publisher?
 

Doffen

Member
Microsoft Vancouver was working on Kinect games. Projects were cancelled. As far as I know, the remaining team was "merged" with Black Tusk Studios. It's a tough one.

Black Tusk was just a name change. It's still a lot of the same developers.
 

DaBoss

Member
Wait what? Why is Konami stupid for buying a company that was about to die? If anything they saved jobs having merged staffs. Does everyone here irrationally knee jerk hate every publisher?

But it wasn't on the verge of dying. Once Konami completely owned it, it was fine financially. Then Konami just did a merger and that's the end of that. Hudson brand still exists, though they haven't released a game with it in 2012+.
 

fvng

Member
But it wasn't on the verge of dying. Once Konami completely owned it, it was fine financially. Then Konami just did a merger and that's the end of that. Hudson brand still exists, though they haven't released a game with it in 2012+.

They were fine financially because Konami bought them out. Explain to everyone why Konami is stupid for buying them?
 
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