[Kifimbo]

In the THQ thread, someone asked for the complete list of studios closed since the start of the generation. Mario (from Sidhe) answered with a partial list, since it didn't include 2011 (and 2012). Using his list as a starting point (thanks), I took some time to add many missing studios. I won't pretend it's an exhaustive list yet, but with your help we can reach that goal.

I decided to start in 2006, but some may argue that it's too early since the generation started in November 2005. When possible, I added the year every studio was closed and a link confirming the news. If you want to add a studio missing from the list, providing a link and the year of death would be appreciated. Gamasutra was my main source, because they were around in 2006 and they are reliable and credible.

Note: some studios were merged over the year, and I didn't include them. For example, The Collective and Shiny Entertainment became Double Helix in 2008. Another one: SouthPeak bought Gamecock. Recently, Artoon, Cavia and Feel Plus were absorbed into AQ Interactive. I guess we could argue in this thread whether or not these studios deserve to be in this list or not.

One last point: yes, this list is depressing, but I'm pretty sure the list of studios created from 2006-2012 is much longer than the one below.

38 Studios - 2012
3D Realms - 2009
4mm Games - 2012
7 Studios (Activision) - 2011
ACES Studio (Microsoft) - 2009
Action Forms - 2009
Artech Studios - 2011
Ascaron - 2009
Atomic Elbow - 2008
Backbone Vancouver
Beam Software/Melbourne House - 2010
BigBig (Sony) - 2012
Big Huge Games - 2012
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
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
Luxoflux - 2010
Mass Media (THQ) - 2008
Microsoft Game Studios Vancouver - 2012
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
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
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
Wizarbox - 2013
Wolfpack Studios - 2006
Yuke’s Company Of America - 2010
Zipper Interactive - 2012
Zoe Mode London - 2009
Zoonami - 2011
Zynga Boston - 2012
Zynga Japan - 2013

[la_briola]

3D Realms was closed 4 times, bloody hell.

[Eggman]

Team Bondi :'(

[Seda]

I like how 3D Realms is on there 4 times

Edit: Fixed now

[dc89]

:(

Pandemic. They made Full Spectrum Warrior right? That was a kick ass game.

[Booshka]

FASA : ( I want 343i/Certain Affinity to resurrect the rumored 5 nearly finished maps Shadowrun had and release them to download, I'd pay so much money for those.

[RukusProvider]

Sink or swim. Welcome to business.

[Galvanise_]

Studio Cambridge haven't closed. They've been restructured.

BigBig is the Sony studio that bit the dust.

[Derrick01]

It's a shame Team Bondi was ruined by pretty much 1 giant asshole who managed to land another job right away.

[Kifimbo]

I like how 3D Realms is on there 4 times

Copy/paste mistakes. Thanks.

Studio Cambridge haven't closed. They've been restructured.

You're right.

[Night_Trekker]

Sink or swim. Welcome to business.

More like "the games industry is still largely reliant on a broken business model."

:( Pandemic. They made Full Spectrum Warrior right? That was a kick ass game.

Indeed. The sequel had so many great ideas, but it was buggy as hell, to the point of being unplayable.

I'll always love Pandemic for FSW and for the first Mercenaries (best GTA clone ever).

[Takao]

Man, I forgot how many studios SOE closed. I guess that explains why their Vita support is a port of Plants Vs. Zombies and not something substantial ...

[U2NUMB]

Bizarre Creations

RIP Sweet Prince

[Bebpo]

Need anymore evidence that the current developer/publisher model is broken?

[timetokill]

Clover Studios - 206

So you're saying that Clover really invented the ink/wash painting style? Holy shit, megaton!

[guek]

Bizarre Creations... :-(

[Shiggy]

Snapdragon Games

[Jokab]

Ensemble Studios is probably my biggest loss there. Such good games.

[ClivePwned]

The thing that strikes me most is how the majority of those listed were publisher owned.

so which publisher has closed the most offices? EA, THQ or Activision?
Also how many collapsed after working with Lucasarts?

[duckroll]

IREM isn't listed? They're dead.

[B_Rik_Schitthaus]

How many were set up, or expanded in the same timeframe?

[Gunloc]

CiNG... ;_;

[duckroll]

Gaia is also missing.

[SolidSnakex]

The thing that strikes me most is how the majority of those listed were publisher owned. so which publisher has closed the most offices? EA, THQ or Activision? Also how many collapsed after working with Lucasarts?

THQ is probably hard to top. They've closed 15 developers.

[Takao]

IREM isn't listed? They're dead.

Have they stated they've closed off the home video game division entirely?

[StoppedInTracks]

Holy damn @ all those THQ studios killed.

[APZonerunner]

Lots of studios that put out great product on that list. RIP.

[Night_Trekker]

Blue Tongue really stings. They made some great games :(

IREM isn't listed? They're dead.

No... NO! We might still get Bumpy Trot 2... *rocks back and forth*

[MiniBossBattle]

So many Bay Area studios died this generation.
Sega SF
Shaba
Locomotive
Factor5
:(


oh you forgot Underground (Acitivision)

[No_Style]

What's the proper terminology for the "<Publisher> <location>" studios? Expansion studios? Satellite studios? A large number of them closed down across multiple publishers which isn't too surprising when the industry transitioned from the last generation.

The ones that sting are the recently purchased and discarded ones like Bizarre Creations :(

[duckroll]

Have they stated they've closed off the home video game division entirely?

All existing titles cancelled in 2011, web store closed, staff migrated to a new studio started up by ex-Irem frontrunners, they've been reorganizing all the content on Home and PSN, and they recently sold off the rights to Spelunker to another publisher. I consider them pretty much dead.

[ZombieSupaStar]

I never asked for this ,TY!

[jufonuk]

:'(

[DiscoJer]

Razorworks, which was a studio for Empire Interactive (which also went under back in 2009, don't know of any of their other studios but presumably they went as well).

Mostly known for the Ford Racing games, Enemy Engaged, and a really nice update of Pipemania for the PSP (which I guess will never show up on PSN)

[duckroll]

No... NO! We might still get Bumpy Trot 2... *rocks back and forth*

You might get something like that from Granzella in 2013 or 2014. Not IREM though. :P

Kazuma is currently making a PS3/Vita title at Granzella, and he has expressed interest in continuing the sort of game themes he made at IREM (disaster games, sandbox games, etc). He has also been supporting the Home lounge with content, just like he did when he was at IREM.

[Sean]

More like "the games industry is still largely reliant on a broken business model."

It's not much different than any other industry. If you are spending millions of dollars and releasing flops, you cannot stay expect to stay around much longer.

[Frost_Ace]

CING ;_;

[Zombie James]

Lots of great talent there. There should be a list of studios opened since 2006, just so we don't feel so depressed :(

[CrankyKong]

Lets ditch 3D graphics and go back to sprites.

[mavs]

Black Rock (Disney) - 2011

fuck man, fuck. Release nothing but great games, get shuttered.

[SeanNoonan]

So many good studios closed up shop and one very special to me - may not have made the best, but it was a fun ride...

Midway Newcastle - 2009

:(

[The Abominable Snowman]

One last point: yes, this list is depressing, but I'm pretty sure the list of studios created from 2006-2012 is much longer than the one below.

I would LOVE to see this as well. Is there a process you went through for finding the list of closed devs?

[Takao]

All existing titles cancelled in 2011, web store closed, staff migrated to a new studio started up by ex-Irem frontrunners, they've been reorganizing all the content on Home and PSN, and they recently sold off the rights to Spelunker to another publisher. I consider them pretty much dead.

Well, who knows they could make Pachislot games forever...

Lots of great talent there. There should be a list of studios opened since 2006, just so we don't feel so depressed :(

That would be really difficult to do thanks to indie developers.

You might get something like that from Granzella in 2013 or 2014. Not IREM though. :P Kazuma is currently making a PS3/Vita title at Granzella, and he has expressed interest in continuing the sort of game themes he made at IREM (disaster games, sandbox games, etc). He has also been supporting the Home lounge with content, just like he did when he was at IREM.

Their first Home content is Edo.

[Ushojax]

Black Rock

CiNG

Hudson

:(

[GDGF]

There was a Kuju Manila?

[SolidSnakex]

Their first Home content is Edo.

Their first one was Southern Island. It features jet ski racing.

[7threst]

Too many great studios on there :(

[Oblivion]

Thanks for making this thread. I was actually wondering about this the other day. Though not at many old shool developers as I thought kicked the bucket.

[Night_Trekker]

It's not much different than any other industry. If you are spending millions of dollars and releasing flops, you cannot stay expect to stay around much longer.

The difference is studios use to be able to handle a few flops before going under. Now they can't. It's blockbuster sales or bankruptcy, and that is not a sign of a healthy business model.

[ghst]

you can throw action forms (of "carnivores" fame) up there if we're just chalking them up. they went dormant sometime after releasing cryostasis, one of my favourite games of the last five years, and since their website is now just a rampant malware hole, i think it's safe to call them dead.