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[Kifimbo]

More than four years ago, I created a list of closed studios with the help of several other members here. Back then, the last few years had been a bloodbath, with the global recession and the decline of mid-range console games and of the handheld market. So, in the last months, a few people added some names to the list, so I decided to update it, which is why this new thread exists. Most additions are of course from 2013 to 2016. Highlights of this update are: the Zynga bubble bursting in 2013, the end of LucasArts, the exit of Disney, and the closure of once great studios like Kojima (under Konami), Maxis, Lionhead and Evolution Studios.

Just like last time, I won't pretend it's an exhaustive list, especially between 2013 and 2016. The list mostly covers major companies/studios that worked on consoles, handhelds and PC games. Nowadays, it's hard to keep track of all the indie studios, especially in the mobile industry.

A few quick notes:

• The goal of this list is simply to have a chunk of gaming history in the same place
• Some of the links below might not work anymore
• Let me know in this thread if you find any mistake
• I'll happily add studios to the list, so feel free to give me some suggestions (providing a link and the year of death would be appreciated)
• The list will need two posts this time

Thanks!

#-R
2K Australia - 2015
2K China - 2015
38 Studios - 2012
3D Realms - 2009
4mm Games - 2012
7 Studios (Activision) - 2011
ACES Studio (Microsoft) - 2009
Action Forms - 2009
Agatsuma Entertainment - 2005
Airtight Games - 2014
AQ Interactive - 2011
Arkedo Studios - 2013
Artech Studios - 2011
Artoon - 2010
Ascaron - 2009
Atomic Elbow - 2008
Atomic Planet - 2009
Avalanche Software - 2016
Avalon Interactive - 2005
Backbone Vancouver
Barking Lizards Technologies - 2009
Beam Software/Melbourne House - 2010
BigBig (Sony) - 2012
Big Huge Games - 2012
Bits Studios - 2007
BioWare San Francisco - 2013
Bizarre Creations (Activision) - 2010/2011
Black Hole Entertainment - 2012
Black Rock (Disney) - 2011
Blimey! Games - 2009
Blitz Games Studios - 2013
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
Crave Entertainment - 2012
Crytek UK - 2014
Danger Close Games (Electronic Arts) - 2013
Dark Energy Digital - 2012
Darkworks - 2011
Deadline Games - 2009
Deep Silver Vienna - 2010
Destination Games - 2009
DICE Canada - 2006
Digital Anvil - 2006
EA Black Box/Quicklime - 2013
EA Bright Light - 2011/2012
EA Chicago - 2007
EA Japan - 2007
EA Victory Games - 2013
Eden Games - 2012
Eidos Manchester - 2009
Eidos Hungary - 2010
Elixir Studios - 2005
Empire Interactive - 2009
Ensemble Studios (Microsoft) - 2008
Étrange Libellules - 2012
Eurocom - 2012
Evolution Studios - 2016
Factor 5 - 2009
Fall Line Studios (Disney) - 2009
FASA (Microsoft) - 2007
feelplus - 2010
Fizz Factor - 2009
Flagship Studios - 2008
Flight Plan - 2010
Free Radical Games - 2014
Frog City Software - 2006
Frozen North Productions
Funcom Beijing - 2013
Funcom Montreal - 2013
Future Games - 2011
FuzzyEyes - 2009
Gaia
Gamelab - 2009
Gameloft Tokyo - 2015
Gameloft New York - 2015
Gameloft New Zealand - 2016
Gameloft Seattle - 2015
Gameloft Valencia - 2016
Gamelab - 2009
Game Republic - 2011
Gray Matter Interactive - 2005
Gree China - 2013
Gree UK - 2013
Gree Vancouver - 2015
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
Hypnotix - 2005
Ignition London - 2010
Ignition Florida - 2010
Ignition Tokyo - 2011
Imageepoch - 2015
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
Kojima Productions (Konami) - 2016
Konami Los Angeles - 2015
Kuju Manila - 2009
Kuju Chemistry - 2009
Kush Games - 2008
Lighthouse Interactive - 2008
Lionhead Studios (Microsoft) - 2016
Locomotive Games (THQ) - 2010
Loose Cannon Studios - 2010
LucasArts - 2013
Luxoflux - 2010
Massive Development - 2005
Mass Media (THQ) - 2008
Maxis Emeryville (EA) - 2015
Metropolis Software - 2009
Microsoft Game Studios Vancouver - 2012
Milestone - 2013
Mind Candy Brighton - 2015
Molten Games - 2014
Monte Cristo - 2010
Monumental Games - 2012
Midway Austin - 2009
Midway Newcastle - 2009
Mindware Studios - 2011
Monte Cristo - 2010
MTV Games - 2011
Multiverse - 2012
Mythic Entertainment - 2014
n-Space - 2016
NetDevil - 2011
Neverland - 2013
Neversoft - 2014
Ninja Studio - 2009
Nihon Telenet - 2007
Nucleosys - 2009
O3 Entertainment - 2008
onLive - 2015
Outerlight - 2010
Outspark - 2013
Ouya - 2015
PAM Development (Take-Two) - 2008
Pandemic Australia (EA) - 2009
Pandemic LA (EA) - 2009
Paradigm Entertainment - 2008
Paragon Studios - 2012
Phenomic Game (Electronic Arts) - 2013
Pi Studios - 2011
Pivotal Games (Take-Two) - 2008
Planet Moon Studios - 2011
Playfish (Electronic Arts) - 2013
PopCap Dublin - 2012
Project Sora - 2012
Press Play (Microsoft) - 2016
Propaganda Games (Disney) - 2011
Pseudo Interactive - 2008
Radical Entertainment - 2012
Rainbow Studios (THQ) - 2011
Ratbag Games - 2005
Razorback Developments - 2012
Razorworks - 2009
Reakktor Media - 2012
Realtime Worlds - 2010
Rebellion Derby - 2010
Red Octane - 2010
Redtribe - 2008
Remode - 2014
Robotoki - 2015
Rockstar Vancouver - 2012
Rockstar Vienna - 2006

 

[Kifimbo]

S-Z
Sandblast Games (THQ) - 2008
SEGA San Francisco - 2010
Sensory Sweep Studios - 2010
Seta - 2008
Shaba Games (Activision) - 2009
SideCar Studios - 2007
Sierra Online - 2008
Silicon Knights - 2013
Slant Six - 2013
Snapdragon Games - 2009
SOE Denver - 2011
SOE Seattle - 2011
SOE Tuscon - 2011
Sony Liverpool - 2012
Southend Interactive - 2013
Spark Unlimited - 2015
Spellbound Entertainment - 2012
Stainless Steel Studios - 2005
Stormfront Studios - 2008
Straylight Studios - 2009
Sunflowers Interactive (Ubisoft) - 2007
Swordfish Studios (Codemasters) - 2010
Tapulous - 2014
Tale of Tales - 2015
Team Bondi - 2011
Terminal Reality - 2013
The Code Monkeys - 2011
The Collective - 2007
TimeGate Studios - 2013
Titan Studios - 2009
THQ Australia - 2009
THQ Digital Warrington - 2009
THQ San Diego - 2012
TopWare Interactive - 2016
Transmission Games/IR Gurus - 2009
Trion Worlds San Diego - 2013
Two Tribes - 2016
Ubisoft Brazil - 2010
Ubisoft Casablanca - 2016
Ubisoft Vancouver - 2012
Underground Development/Z-Axis (Activision) - 2010
Universomo (THQ) - 2009
VectorCell - 2013
Venom Games (Take Two) - 2008
Vicarious Visions California - 2007
Victory Games (Electronic Arts) - 2013
Visceral Montreal - 2013
Vigil Games - 2013
Visceral Australia (EA) - 2011
Volatile Games - 2013
White Birds Productions - 2011
Wideload Games - 2014
Wizarbox - 2013
Wolfpack Studios - 2006
Yuke’s Company Of America - 2010
Zipper Interactive - 2012
Zoe Mode London - 2009
Zombie Studios - 2015
Zoonami - 2011
Zynga Boston - 2012
Zynga China - 2015
Zynga Dallas - 2013
Zynga East - 2013
Zynga Japan - 2013
Zynga Los Angeles - 2013
Zynga New York - 2013
Zynga OMGPop - 2013
Zynga Page 44 Studios - 2013
Zynga OMGPop - 2013"]Zynga Seattle[/URL] - 2014

 

[N.Grim]

LucasArts

It still hurts

Maxis Emeryville (EA)

Also #FuckEA

 

[Ouren]

Tale of Tales is still around and making Cathedral in the Clouds
https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/taleoftales/cathedral-in-the-clouds-contemplation-in-the-digit

 

[Tarin02543]

Great work, gives a good insight into today's economic situation. Names like Factor 5 and Eurocom used to have a lot of weight, but all of that is gone now.

 

[Piers]

That Zynga.

 

[Gabriel_Logan]

Ah GRIN, miss those chuckleheads

 

[bbkkristian]

The list is so long. How depressing.

 

[TheDinoman]

Damn graveyard in here.

Seeing Blue Fang shuttered kinda makes me sad, considering how much I loved their Zoo Tycoon games growing up.

 

[Nyoro SF]

Ugh, I had forgotten about Neversoft... though to be fair, I don't know if they wanted to make nothing but skateboard games forever.

 

[Nirolak]

Ah GRIN, miss those chuckleheads

They became Overkill and run Starbreeze now.

 

[-shadow-]

Some of the studios really hurt. LucasArts and Eurocom still sting.

 

[dugdug]

Huh, Zombie shut down? I thought Blacklight did well for them.

 

[Teletraan1]

10 Zynga Studios. Why did they even exist? If anything a lot of this list is just [Big Pub] [City Name] but there are some lost studios that really hurt.

 

[Heshinsi]

I thought Evolution Studios was purchased in full by Codemasters. Meaning that the studio was never actually shut down.

 

[Noobcraft]

Lucas Arts

I feel bad for not feeling bad about Zynga though. Well done Mattrick.

 

[fernoca]

Ugh, I had forgotten about Neversoft... though to be fair, I don't know if they wanted to make nothing but skateboard games forever.

Though, Neversoft is a bit mixed in that they closed in name, but the staff was merged with Infinity Ward and they've been working on Call of Duty over the past years.

 

[Sir_Crocodile]

Man I miss Cing.

Had a soft spot for eurocom back in the day. The NES version of James Bond Jnr was great. Will always miss nineties lucasarts of course.

 

[Badoink]

Is Spicy Horse considered closed?

 

[Spaced Harrier]

Would love if someone would recreate that list but with the company logos.

Especially if animated

Like a digital gravestone.

 

[Ashtar]

Can we please pour out some for all the studios no longer with us

 

[Tagyhag]

Man I miss Cing.

Had a soft spot for eurocom back in the day. The NES version of James Bond Jnr was great. Will always miss nineties lucasarts of course.

Hotel Dusk was so good. Its sequel never came out in NA. :[

 

[bjork]

Eden closing is a shame. I always wanted Kya: Dark Lineage 2.

 

[Dad]

It's been more than 7 years and I'm still not over Ensemble Studios

 

[RipperGrim]

Wow that was depressing. I think knowing that a lot of these studios had some major talent and ideas behind them makes it worse.

 

[Barry Burton]

Is Irrational closed officially, or is where Levine and his small team are working still considered "Irrational Games"?

 

[Tom Nook]

Thanks EA....

 

[Kiddy Dong]

Free Radical 😩

 

[Hero of Legend]

Mass Media is still around, having worked on the Jak and Ratchet HD collections (sans Ratchet collection on PS3 which was by Idol Minds).

And Rainbow Studios was revived by Nordic Games and made MX vs. ATV Supercross.

 

[ultra7k]

Just to add a couple more to the list.

Barking Dog Games (bought out by Rockstar, then turned into Rockstar Vancouver in 2002) - edit: whoops, sorry didn't see it was since 2005.
Big Sandwich Games (Bought out by Z2Live in 2012)

 

[darthkarki]

That's quite the list.

Would mind putting it in a Google Sheet as well, so as to be able to sort by date? Would be interesting to see at a glance who fell each year.

 

[SatelliteOfLove]

Sadly, I'll have to bookmark this one too.

 

[uncleniccius]

The issue with the list is that some have "closed" but not really closed. Crytek UK all but exists with a different name/ownership right?

 

[TheDinoman]

The issue with the list is that some have "closed" but not really closed. Crytek UK all but exists with a different name/ownership right?

You also have some companies listed like Project Sora, which was only really a temporary studio Sakurai and Nintendo put together in order to produce Kid Icarus Uprising. So naturally when that game was finished, the team disbanded shortly after.

 

[Schlorgan]

I think a lot of EA studios just changed names and had people moved around (pretty sure DICE LA is mostly people from Danger Close).