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Sony closes Evolution Studios (Motorstorm, Driveclub)

The crazy part about this announcement is, just 2 days ago, the former evolution studios employees who were let go some time ago, formed a new studio sorcery secret was just got a exclusive development deal with Sony for Playstation VR,

https://www.vrfocus.com/2016/03/secret-sorcery-partners-with-playstation-for-psvr-exclusive/

CeHEf6fUEAAjj_6.jpg
 
Shame. I really enjoyed MotorStorm Monument Valley but by Pacific Rift the rubber band AI was really starting to piss me off in the mid to high level festivals.

They had a sloppy online launch with Driveclub despite a long delay and it's no secret that arcade racers are selling poorly.
 
From a communication point of view it has always been a mess: a playstation plus upgradable version, a downloadable version with addons, lacking this that will come in months...

It was never a "complete" game sold in a blu-ray that sold millions to start by. It was sort of a experiment in the way it was launched. And the problem with this is that maybe the public don´t understand it (nor the reviewers in this case).

Why for example wasn´t it recently relaunched as a physical re-reviewable copy once it was already a great experience?. I seriously can´t understand some business decisions...

How is that related to the game being a good or a bad single player game ???
 
Maybe there is a chance that Slightly Mad Studios will recruit at least some of the devs?

The tech in Driveclub was impressive, would love to see what they can achieve in the future especially on pc.
 
Absolutely shit news. Driveclub was the only title left that "straddled" the sim and arcade racer space (as it seemed to stem from the same kernel as MSR/PGR aka God-tier racing games). With pretty much no arcade racers left and, for me personally, finding simulation racers the most boring games devoid of much in the way of fun, this leaves a bleak future for racing games and racing-game fans, if any future at all.
 
Ugh this sucks.

Launch issues aside Driveclub is the best driving experience this gen and along with the order 1886 the only game that's made me see what the new consoles can really do on the tech side

Find me a screenshot or gif that looks more insane than driveclub overcast and with dynamic rain... You can't

Good luck to everyone, they are obviously talented
 
Are you fucking kidding me Sony? Driveclub is literally one of the best racers I've ever played, and I've played countless racers over the last 30 years or so. This is a major shitty move, and absolutely awful news. I can't believe Driveclub will never see a sequel, get more city tracks, or even get that second season pass.

Fuck....

To Evolution, you guys are some of the most talented in the industry, and it genuinely pains and angers me to hear you'll be no more. Good luck to you all, I hope you find tremendous success going forward, and that you get to create more incredible experiences in the future.

Fuuuuu....

;(
 
What a batshit insane decision.

The fuck? DriveClub is an incredible game with a huge fan base, the studio should have been applauded for how they have supported the game since launch.

Meanwhile Polyphony were meant to have had a beta of GT Sport out by now and yet we've heard nothing since Paris game week. That was over five months ago. Naughty Dog have delayed and delayed again their next game, yet here are Evolution putting out some amazing content fostering a community of players.

Sony what the fuck are you doing?
 
lol everytime!. Give it a rest. "Please don't pick on my poor multimillion pound corporation"

Every time really? Why not let's just be sad for all. Not be hypocrites about it and call MS out then pat Sony on the back because they did all they could.
 
ARE YOU KIDDING ME?!

After they were able to recoup from the launch & turn DriveClub into a stellar product, they do this? I hope Rushy & the rest of the team land on their feet soon.
 
They will probably relocate some people to all of their british studios (North West, London Studio, MM and XDEV) and maybe North West which is focused on VR and have some ex-Evo people can finish Driveclub VR

But this means that both DC and especially Motorstorm IP are going silent for a while. Really sad news. Hope Rushy can assemble a team and make cool games again
 
Make myself wonder if I should go to this industry. Currently I work in web development but I 'm really interested in working in videogame

Just don't get into arcade racers. Most of them are gutted or shut down.

Liverpool, Evolution Studios, Bizarre Creations, Criterion,

Playground Games better watch themselves.

Apocalypse launch had a very bad time.


I imported Apocalypse to the States and it was so worth it. Apocalypse blew my mind.
 
This sucks. I thought they were the best studio when it came to racing games. Not only that but they actually put out content, unlike a similar studio.

Such a shame. I sincerely hope everyone there lands on their feet.
 
What a batshit insane decision.

The fuck? DriveClub is an incredible game with a huge fan base, the studio should have been applauded for how they have supported the game since launch.

Meanwhile Polyphony were meant to have had a beta of GT Sport out by now and yet we've heard nothing since Paris game week. That was over five months ago. Naughty Dog have delayed and delayed again their next game, yet here are Evolution putting out some amazing content fostering a community of players.

Sony what the fuck are you doing?


Sony what the fuck are you doing?


Sony what the fuck are you doing?


Sony what the fuck are you doing?


Sony what the fuck are you doing?


Sony what the fuck are you doing?
 
It's the UK Racing Studio curse! Sumo Digital please be ok!
I was keeping an eye on their website as I'd love a job with them and their studio is very close to me.

Now I know it's the wrong move, this is awful. It's really going to drive good talent out of the gaming market.
 
AAA development just doesn't seem worth it unless you are at a company that collabs on multiple projects at a time so you always have that safety net and at least a little bit better job security.
 
Terrible news, I was hoping to see either a new Motorstorm or a new Rally game from these guys.

Outside of Codemasters i don't think any studio which focuses on racers can survive.
 
No more MotorStorm games :(

Best luck for everyone involved.


For those talking about Polyphony

In the last ten years, GT games sold more than 25 million copies.
 
Gutted for the guys at Evo. Know how they must be feeling. Driveclub is a great game and is a fine legacy to leave behind. Best of luck to everyone at Evolution. Hope you all go on to bigger and better things.
 
They were based in the North West England, right? I wonder how many can go to SCE Manchester.

I've not read all 13 pages, so this might have already been suggested.
 
First and foremost, hope everyone lands on their feet after this.

That cleared, some questions remain:

- what will happen to the awesome, awesome tech Driveclub is running? Hopefully it will be still used for a bunch of stuff;

- what will happen to DC dlc plans and support?

- what about DC VR? cancelled?

And finally: what the hell is all this closening of studios? Lionhead... Evo... damn..
 
Studio closure threads are the worst on GAF. Not because people lost their jobs, but because everyone is so quick to have to find a villain to blame and are incapable of viewing things in any rational manner. It's al "fuck this person" and "fuck that person!". I mean, we are comparing Evolution to Naughty Dog now? You don't see a tiny bit of difference between a company that delays it's games but releases some of Sony's biggest hits, to a company that bungled a launch so badly it's game became an afterthought to everyone but a diehard following? That's the batshit level we've reached in order to prove that Sony "messed up" in making a business move that we don't know any of the details of?
 
Just don't get into arcade racers. Most of them are gutted or shut down.

Liverpool, Evolution Studios, Bizarre Creations, Criterion,

Playground Games better watch themselves.

Arcade racers seem to a tough genre for a studio to really thrive in. I wonder how Forza Horizon sells compared to Forza.
 
Damn, wasn't expecting that. Driveclub was a really solid game in the end and the Bikes expansion was really good. A Driveclub 2 could have been something special.
 
Thanks all Evolution stuff who keep supporting Driveclub, you guys are awesome.
Good luck on your next adventure.
 
Unsurprising. When Driveclub sputtered out of the gate, they were living on borrowed time.

Well, yeah. I thought they were done for after Apocalypse. Then RC saved them, I think. Then the Driveclub launch fiasco. But they got that on track eventually.
 
Judging by a post on twitter, development for the game continues.

CeKbkqMWAAAjyZ4.jpg:large
Seems like DriveClub VR is still happening then.

edit: Hmm... connecting the dots...

The crazy part about this announcement is, just 2 days ago, the former evolution studios employees who were let go some time ago, formed a new studio sorcery secret was just got a exclusive development deal with Sony for Playstation VR,

https://www.vrfocus.com/2016/03/secret-sorcery-partners-with-playstation-for-psvr-exclusive/

CeHEf6fUEAAjj_6.jpg
 
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