studio closure Archives

AppWizard

November 26, 2024

Humanoid Origin is shutting down

Canadian game developer Humanoid Origin has announced its decision to cease operations due to an inability to secure sufficient funding. Founded in 2021 by Casey Hudson, the studio aimed to create a new science-fiction universe but faced challenges from the broader economic landscape. The team expressed sorrow over their unfinished vision and emphasized their commitment to supporting employees in their transition to new employment. They acknowledged the remarkable achievements of their team and the culture of fun and creativity fostered during their time together.

AppWizard

October 22, 2024

Report: Netflix closes down triple-A Blue studio

Netflix has decided to close its Blue studio, which was developing a high-budget, multi-device triple-A game in Southern California. The studio attracted notable industry veterans, including Chacko Sonny, Joseph Staten, and Rafael Grassetti, who are no longer with the company. Netflix's gaming efforts are now primarily focused on mobile platforms, aiming to expand its library with existing titles and original games.

AppWizard

September 19, 2024

Behaviour closes down Midwinter as it cancels Project T

Behaviour Interactive has announced the closure of Midwinter Entertainment, a studio it acquired in 2022, following the cancellation of Project T, a spin-off of Dead by Daylight. The decision was based on a risk assessment that deemed Project T unviable. Behaviour has offered relocation to its Canadian studios for Midwinter employees and provided a severance package for those who do not relocate. Midwinter Entertainment was founded in 2016 by veterans from 343 Industries and initially focused on the game Scavengers, which was discontinued three years later.

AppWizard

September 6, 2024

Tango founder Mikami “surprised” by studio closure

Shinji Mikami, founder of Tango Gameworks, was surprised by Microsoft's decision to close the studio, believing it would be secure as long as it produced Hi-Fi Rush titles. He left Tango Gameworks partly due to this belief. Following the studio's closure, Krafton acquired Tango Gameworks and the Hi-Fi Rush intellectual property, which Mikami viewed positively. He emphasized that making a good game is crucial for a studio's survival, rather than just creating a popular one. Mikami departed from Tango Gameworks in February 2023.

AppWizard

August 22, 2024

Journey to the Savage Planet developer says Google only wanted ‘monstrous’ games with major licenses for Stadia: ‘They were very strange’

Alex Hutchinson, co-founder and creative director of Raccoon Logic, discussed the challenges faced by Google's gaming platform Stadia, which collapsed three years after its launch due to a lack of substantial content and a misunderstanding of the gaming landscape. His studio, Typhoon Studios, was acquired by Google in December 2019 and was shut down shortly after the launch of their game, Journey to the Savage Planet, in February 2021. The closure coincided with the Covid-19 pandemic, leading to a difficult experience for the team. Hutchinson noted that Google’s insistence on creating games exclusively for cloud play complicated matters. Despite these challenges, he mentioned that the only positive outcome was financial support, which has influenced Raccoon Logic's upcoming sequel, Revenge of the Savage Planet, set to release in 2025. The sequel will explore themes of capitalism and corporatocracy, with a narrative involving a mid-tier corporation that is abandoned during a space exploration mission.