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Sony closes Evolution Studios (Motorstorm, Driveclub)
- Thread starter Finaj
- Start date
Off-Kilter
Banned
Has Rushy weighed in yet?
Polyphony Digital, Inc. is an internal video game development studio of Sony Computer Entertainment, part of Sony Computer Entertainment Worldwide Studios. Originally a development group within Sony Computer Entertainment known as Polys Entertainment,[2][3] after the success of Gran Turismo in Japan, they were granted greater autonomy and their name changed to Polyphony Digital.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polyphony_Digital
stop comparing polyphony with evolution
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polyphony_Digital
stop comparing polyphony with evolution
He posted a thank you message on Twitter, it's in this thread.
Sony London Studio = VR only
Guerrilla Cambridge = VR only
North West Studio = VR only
Sucker Punch = ???
Seriously, I see a pattern here. As ridiculous as it sounds (and yes, I KNOW it sounds childish as hell, right now) I think I'm going to cancel my PlayStation VR preorder.
I'm fucking pissed. VR is a nice "feature" but I don't want it to replace my ordinary games.
Fuck it. I'm pissed!
Guerrilla Cambridge = VR only
North West Studio = VR only
Sucker Punch = ???
Seriously, I see a pattern here. As ridiculous as it sounds (and yes, I KNOW it sounds childish as hell, right now) I think I'm going to cancel my PlayStation VR preorder.
I'm fucking pissed. VR is a nice "feature" but I don't want it to replace my ordinary games.
Fuck it. I'm pissed!
protomouse
Member
It's more than just a name change though. It's a new company that merges everything PlayStation into one. It's also a statement: Sony doesn't see Japan as a relevant seat for their gaming business, which is why PlayStation (under this new company) will operate out of America.
Really they had a pretty rocky go now that I think about it:
- Motorstorm 1: initial trailers oversold what the game ended up being, I believe having a big impact on it's reception. The game was still great though. Still the best car destruction of the franchise.
- Motorstorm 2: had the worst demo of all time... simply awful. Made the game look like ugly hot garbage. Then they released an updated demo and the final game ended up being one of the best looking games of all time. Yet the damage of that initial demo was done...
- Motorstorm 3: Pretty sure it sold quite badly... possibly due to the loss of interest after MS2 (similar to what happened with Resistance trilogy)
- Driveclub: The launch...
It's undeniable that they had some great talent, but just some bad luck and perhaps some bad decision making by some higher ups / Sony. (That Motorstorm 2 Demo should not have been released, Driveclub PS+ may have been a terrible idea overall, etc)
I mean seriously... LOOK AT THIS
Part of me believes that this single demo was what triggered the slow death of Evo.
Edit: Sorry... I don't mean to derail and bring upon more negativity. I with everyone at Evo the best and look forward to more Driveclub as it sounds like support will indeed continue.
Ninja Sharingan
Banned
Maybe turn 10 or playground games could hire a few of the people
Duggie_Brown
Member
What do people expect? The drones waffle on about how great publishers like Sony and Microsoft are when in reality they don't give a crap about games; it's always been about the money.
Sony are not a great publisher, you barely see them anywhere when it comes to the development side. Just look at Street Fighter 5; Sony paid for that to be a PS4 exclusive, but that's literally where it ended. Capcom then ended up releasing a shallow game, which is an embarrassment to its history, yet people still lap it up and the money comes rolling in.
Evolution made some fantastic exclusives on the Playstation, but obviously that wasn't good enough. I'm sure they made money, but clearly not enough to make them worth while to the Sony train.
Driveclub had it's issues at launch and you have to wonder why. This game was meant to be a service, yet it was hit by bugs and delays, pushed out on a machine that after two years has barely any exclusives to justify its purchase price. What a shambles.
All I can say is good luck to those affected by this closer and I hope that they find jobs elsewhere, which also frees them from the shackles of giant publishers who couldn't give a shit about them.
Sony are not a great publisher, you barely see them anywhere when it comes to the development side. Just look at Street Fighter 5; Sony paid for that to be a PS4 exclusive, but that's literally where it ended. Capcom then ended up releasing a shallow game, which is an embarrassment to its history, yet people still lap it up and the money comes rolling in.
Evolution made some fantastic exclusives on the Playstation, but obviously that wasn't good enough. I'm sure they made money, but clearly not enough to make them worth while to the Sony train.
Driveclub had it's issues at launch and you have to wonder why. This game was meant to be a service, yet it was hit by bugs and delays, pushed out on a machine that after two years has barely any exclusives to justify its purchase price. What a shambles.
All I can say is good luck to those affected by this closer and I hope that they find jobs elsewhere, which also frees them from the shackles of giant publishers who couldn't give a shit about them.
Broadbandito
Member
wait, is driveclub support dying with this??! NOOOOO
Playground Games is the standout but Sumo Digital have quite a few expert racing devs there too. And Simply Mad Studios of course!
As a country we have Motorsport in our DNA so it is only natural we have a good racing game development scene. I'm sure the guys at Evolution will likely stick around and we haven't seen the last racing game from them.
You're canceling your VR preorder because Sony is focusing (partially) on making content for VR?
boredandlazy
Member
Turn 10 is in the USA. Evolution isn't/wasn't.
Sad but expected. Driveclub as a "service" (whatever that means) was a bad idea and would never have worked. Also, driving games aren't selling all that much anymore and that was their speciality.
I always liked Evolution Studios. I consider Motorstorm 2 amongst my favourite games. Motorstorm RC was great too.
Goodbye Evolution Studios and thanks for the games. I hope you will all find new jobs very soon.
I always liked Evolution Studios. I consider Motorstorm 2 amongst my favourite games. Motorstorm RC was great too.
Goodbye Evolution Studios and thanks for the games. I hope you will all find new jobs very soon.
Omnistalgic
Member
I just hope Sony doesn't sit on the IP forever.
Wipeout and Motorstorm could use a Ps4 debut, just give it small budgets.
Wipeout and Motorstorm could use a Ps4 debut, just give it small budgets.
InsaneTiger
Member
This makes zero sense.
Doug Heffernan
Member
First party device being supported by first party studios, what an odd concept...
Rocket League is an amazing game but it is most definitely not a AAA game. The budget for RL was $2M dollars or around 40x less than MGSV budget. Also, the number of racing games available today on either X1/ PS4 pails in comparison to the PS3/360 days.
Mad Season
Banned
DC was a debacle from the very beginning. sad news but not unexpected TBH
Shift Breaker
Member
The fact that the latest Driveclub DLC was called "Finish Line" suddenly seems much more morbid.
breakfuss
Member
lol, wait, wasn't there just a thread like a week ago with people saying how great Sony was for offering people jobs from a Microsoft shuttered studio on twitter? Lord.
Well, I bought Driveclub (and had Motorstorm). I did my part. Sad to see this happen but the DC release was a hot mess.
Well, I bought Driveclub (and had Motorstorm). I did my part. Sad to see this happen but the DC release was a hot mess.
nekkid
It doesn't matter who we are, what matters is our plan.
Codies Birmingham, too.
DidntKnowJack
Member
No more Wipeout, no more Motorstorm, now no more Driveclub. Great job, Sony. Keep killing off my favorite franchises while shitting out VR bullshit. Fuck you.
bananafactory
Banned
It's fucking sad that a studio closed and people lost their jobs and all some people are concerned with is making this about Sony vs Microsoft.
Thats all I really have left to say aside from the fact Evolution had some very passionate and talented folks and I hope they land on their feet.
Thanks for everything Rushy.
Thats all I really have left to say aside from the fact Evolution had some very passionate and talented folks and I hope they land on their feet.
Thanks for everything Rushy.
Maaaaaardy
Member
This absolutely sucks.
The post I quoted mentioned Codies so I wasn't leaving them out intentionally!
Sidewinder
Member
Fuck fuck fuck...FUCK! Can't believe it, after Studio Liverpool now Evolution?? What sad news, no Motorstorm, no WipEout, no Colony Wars, no more Team ICO after TLG, not much left for me to hang on to Sony consoles. PS4.5 might be the final nail in the coffin depending how they handle that transition.
;( farewell best arcade racers of the last two gens, I guess it's game over ;(
;( farewell best arcade racers of the last two gens, I guess it's game over ;(
Gtagentleman
Member
If they only waited more to launch Driveclub in a playable state and who can forget about the PS+ edition fiasco?
Driveclub right now is AMAZING, so sad to see this.
I hope the racing genre is not only Gran Turismo for PS4 for now on.
Driveclub right now is AMAZING, so sad to see this.
I hope the racing genre is not only Gran Turismo for PS4 for now on.
nelsonroyale
Member
That is sad. These guys made some impressive games. Really hope they land on their feet!
mysteriousmage09
Member
RIP Evolution. Hope all turns out well and that Shinobi is right with the "good things will come from this" statement.
Also, the amount of stupid shit I just read in this thread is unbelievable. I could feel my IQ and my sanity dropping with each passing page.
Also, the amount of stupid shit I just read in this thread is unbelievable. I could feel my IQ and my sanity dropping with each passing page.
The Baron Count
Member
I don't get this. Surely Diveclub didn't perform that much worse than the last few Motorstorm games right?
Why do this now?
Why do this now?
Doug Heffernan
Member
I wouldn't be surprised. Playground are mostly comprised of former Bizarre and Codemasters staff so it would be a good fit.
IcyRhythms
Member
Not surprising. Their games sucked
motherxwolf
Member
Damn this sucks
Just to respond to myself, I was poking through last year's thread about layoffs at Evolution, and I noticed that that took place in March. And this is particularly poignant:
Almost exactly one year ago to the day.
breakfuss
Member
lolol that's a little harsh. Motorstorm was pretty damn good. I do think Driveclub however was missing something. Can't put my finger on it though.
Umm why?
Aizu_Itsuko
Member
First Psygnosis and now Evolution after they turned their game around?
Sometimes I want to punch you in your perfect teeth, Sony.
Sometimes I want to punch you in your perfect teeth, Sony.
What was the development budget for Motorstorm? What was the development budget for DC? That should answer your question.
"Partially"? Well, I don't know.
Guerrilla Cambridge? Gone -> VR camp
Studio London? Gone -> VR camp
New North West Studio -> VR only
Evolution Studios -> closed
Media Molecule = Dreams / Dreams VR, as it seems.
Polyphony Digital: GT Sport + GT VR (in the year 2025 for PlayStation 6)
I see less and less "ordinary" games and more VR stuff.
Fuck, I'm just mad as hell.
Melchiah
Member
Cheers, Rushy.
I'll be doing a victory lap in their honour tonight.
breakfuss
Member
They're a business, not a charity.