Development studio Free Radical has seemingly closed for good today following the news that it would be shut down by parent company Embracer a couple weeks ago. Several members of the development team have surfaced on social media to say their goodbyes and lament the death of the studio.
While it was initially reported that the studio was at risk of closing in early November, VGC later confirmed that Free Radical would be shut down by December 11. As of this morning, Free Radical’s website has been pulled down, with only a “404 Company Not Found :-(” message displaying.
Following the shutdown, some members of the development team have taken to posting on Twitter/X to say farewell:
Mark Normington, Senior Artist
It's been a great 2 and a quarter years at Free Radical Design, sad to see us go.
Onwards and upwards! pic.twitter.com/VEfJ29g42D
— Mark🥋🎨 (@KeighleyKicker) December 11, 2023
Adam Kiraly, Senior Tech Artist
The last day at FRD was very different from what I imagined. I don't think it sunk in properly just yet, but handed my keys in and left the building the last time. It's Time to Split pic.twitter.com/n1UGELsoED
— Adam Kiraly (@94Kiraly) December 11, 2023
Some former employees have also posted about the closure on LinkedIn. Former QA Manager Kevin Ellis wrote the following:
As the sun sets on my last day at Free Radical Design, I feel privileged to have had the opportunity to collaborate both with industry legends and with emerging talents who will no doubt shape the future of the industry. Free Radical Design was a hub of creativity, but sadly, we join an ever-growing list of casualties in a broken industry where entire studios are treated as replaceable cogs in a soulless machine fixated on nothing but share prices.
To all who lent their skills, dedication and creativity, you are the heartbeat of Free Radical Design. As we part ways, I’m confident your talents will persist in shaping gaming’s trajectory. Let’s carry forth the spirit of innovation, resilient against industry challenges, fueled by an unwavering passion for gaming.
Here’s to new beginnings and the everlasting legacy of Free Radical Design.
Free Radical had been working on a TimeSplitters reboot prior to their closure by Embracer. They are the latest in a long line of Embracer Group’s casualties, a list that includes Volition and several others. We hope to see the trend of studio shutdowns slow down soon.
If you’d like to read more about the other companies that Embracer has damaged this year, click here.
Source: VGC