Sony Closes a game studio: make a guess before clicking!

[DerNebel]

Guerrila Cambridge to close | GamesIndustry.biz

fudge, I had a feeling something like this was going to happen.

[BananaKing]

Guerrila Cambridge to close | GamesIndustry.biz

fudge, I had a feeling something like this was going to happen.

Sony killed them if they were expecting good sales for Rigs. this is shame news as they were a talented studio. first they made them do a game on Vita and then VR. both with low hardware install bases.

[Legend]

Guerrila Cambridge to close | GamesIndustry.biz

fudge, I had a feeling something like this was going to happen.

Fudge no!

Season 2 was just announced for Rigs.

[darkknightkryta]

I'm sad.  I want Medievil.

[Aura7541]

Well fudge... Did Rigs really did them in?

[Raven]

The fact that Cambridge was closed before London really makes me scratch my head. Unless London does something for them I'm not aware of. I understood Evolution Studios. For Cambridge, I can't help but feel like Sony, intentionally or not, set them up to fail.

[darkknightkryta]

The fact that Cambridge was closed before London really makes me scratch my head. Unless London does something for them I'm not aware of. I understood Evolution Studios. For Cambridge, I can't help but feel like Sony, intentionally or not, set them up to fail.

I'm assuming the Killzone title they were working on wasn't coming along.  Or whatever they were working on that needed devs.  Santa Monica probably would have been axed too if it wasn't for God of War.

[Raven]

I'm assuming the Killzone title they were working on wasn't coming along.  Or whatever they were working on that needed devs.  Santa Monica probably would have been axed too if it wasn't for God of War.

Nah. Santa Monica would have had layoffs but they're a farm for working with small developers in the region. They're the North American version of XDev.

[the-pi-guy]

The fact that Cambridge was closed before London really makes me scratch my head. Unless London does something for them I'm not aware of. I understood Evolution Studios. For Cambridge, I can't help but feel like Sony, intentionally or not, set them up to fail.

Sony London is one of their main studios.  Their largest studio.  
I'd argue they are more of an R & D studio that makes full games with their R & D.  They make like Eyepet, and VR Worlds.  Stuff that is largely there to show capabilities than sell 10m copies.  

[kitler53]

what the literal fudge sony??

you can't blame these guys for rigs,.. the game launched to a zero install base.  killzone mercenarys also released on the basically dead vita but it was a very good game for the couple of us that own a vita.  they've been making good games you just need to give them a better project to work on and better hardware to release on.  you can't make them the icebreaker studio for new hardware and then blame them that they don't have a hugely hit software.  they are playing their part.

this is battleship.  

[DerNebel]

The fact that Cambridge was closed before London really makes me scratch my head. Unless London does something for them I'm not aware of. I understood Evolution Studios. For Cambridge, I can't help but feel like Sony, intentionally or not, set them up to fail.

VR Worlds sold noticably better than Rigs, even discounting the bundles. Rigs sold like complete dog.

Also Legend abusing his admin rights again?  

[Horizon]

I am very ambivalent about this one. It sucks Sony has closed another studio, especially as I feel Cambridge could have made a cool PS4 game whether it be Killzone or a new I.P.But I also understand games are expensive to make, RIGS probably did not sell well but also I read Cambridge helped a lot with tech in Killzone so maybe the tech people were already integrated into Guerrilla Games and most of Sony's studios also don't help with the tech side now. Also I think evaluating their European studios is good, as right now apart from Guerrilla Games (who apart about to become the ND's of Europe after Horizon for Sony) the rest of them are not doing enough. Sony's American set of studios are incredibly strong now with Bend back in the PS4 fold and SM on God Of War. Japan has arisen from a slumber from last gen where they frankly embarrassing. I mean PD are still PD, GT will always make money and sell but Japan Studio are back with a bang and arguably Sony's most interesting studio and are now producing good to great games in TLG and Gravity Rush 2. Europe though with the exception of Guerrilla need a shake up. Media Molecule need to get dreams out asap or start convincing people of the game, Sony London are a freaking joke, they should be the pinnacle of their European studios and making killer AAA games but they work on VR and singstar and no knows what SIE North West will be like.  Which makes the Cambridge shutting more puzzling as they were a studio who were easily talented enough to make a new I.P or work on Killzone.

[Dr. Pezus]

Good studio  

[darkknightkryta]

Nah. Santa Monica would have had layoffs but they're a farm for working with small developers in the region. They're the North American version of XDev.

I'm sure without God of War it would have been shut down.  With whatever left over moved to San Diego and Naughty Dog.

But still, is everyone ignoring that Cambridge had been hiring for a "AAA" game three years ago?  Or was Rigs it?  I'm sure whatever they were working on wasn't progressing and they got the can.  Either that or Rigs was in development for too long.  I'm sad cause I love Medievil and I'm sure a retooled Primal would have sold decently.

[Raven]

I'm sure without God of War it would have been shut down.  With whatever left over moved to San Diego and Naughty Dog.

But still, is everyone ignoring that Cambridge had been hiring for a "AAA" game three years ago?  Or was Rigs it?  I'm sure whatever they were working on wasn't progressing and they got the can.  Either that or Rigs was in development for too long.  I'm sad cause I love Medievil and I'm sure a retooled Primal would have sold decently.

No, braj. It's a North American XDev with an internal development team. They would have just kept the studio much thinner on staff. They have helped third parties produce a lot of games for Sony over the years and some of them were really good. If XDev hasn't been closed, no reason to suspect Santa Monica would have been.

No idea what was happening with Cambridge behind the scenes. No one is ignoring it but we don't know the actual details. No reason to be sad about their games, though. If Sony wanted to they could have another studio do new games from the franchises Cambridge did.