It's always sad when we have to report on a studio closure, but it's even worse when it's a developer that, over the last 19 years, has clearly shown it has real talent. Game Industry reports that Sony is going to shutter Guerrilla Cambridge, the UK branch of Killzone and Horizon: Zero Dawn developer Guerrilla Games.
The studio's most recent release was RIGS: Mechanized Combat League for PlayStation VR. It was also behind Vita exclusive Killzone: Mercenary, and back when it was simply called Sony Cambridge Studio, it crafted LittleBigPlanet on PSP, and, perhaps most notably, MediEvil and MediEvil 2 on the original PlayStation. For years, rumours have been circling that MediEvil would be making a comeback, but that obviously looks even more unlikely now.
So, why's the developer closing its doors? According to Sony, it's to do with the restructuring of its European studios, although at this point, no other development teams have been impacted. "This decision should not take anything away from the incredible games and services that Guerrilla Cambridge has delivered," Sony states.
Sadly, all of Guerrilla Cambridge's employees will be laid off, although Sony has said that where possible, it will "try to reallocate people onto other projects". Naturally, we wish the best of luck to all of those affected by the closure.
[source gamesindustry.biz]
Comments 34
Absolute bummer. Cambridge's output has been really consistent across all PlayStation platforms. The only major dud I can think of is TV Superstars for the Move.
Didn't they do the 24 game for PS2?
This is bad news. Wonder if Brexit has anything to do with it.
I had medievil on the psp. it was great fun, and funny too.
@nathanSF I doubt Brexit's to blame but it sure as Hell won't be helping.
Terrible news, why isnt this blown out of proportion? When scalebound was cancelled i saw messages such as Xbox is in trouble ( particular on N4g)
@get2sammyb well, in theory, all Brexit has done so far is weaken the pound which makes labour in the UK cheaper if you're otherwise trading in Euros. If this is anything to do with Brexit it would have to be long-term fears about having a few teams based outside the EU when the rest are inside somehow making things difficult.
@Sanquine Context. Guerrilla Cambridge has just come off a big project (RIGS), whereas Scalebound hadn't even come out yet. Also, I think a lot of people were upset by the Scalebound scenario because it's slimpickings on the first-party front for Microsoft. While this news is obviously very sad, it hasn't changed Sony's insane lineup at all.
@Sanquine I guess because no games were cancelled? Presumably GG Cambridge hadn't yet moved on after RIGS? It's sad. I really enjoyed KZ:Mercenary.
@nathanSF I doubt it especially when the bank of England were saying just yesterday that Brexit isn't anywhere near as severe as first feared.
I'm shocked by this, it was more then likely that they were making a new Killzone game too. I had hoped that with the success of PS4 that Sony would be adding to their WWS instead of trimming it. I've been saying for years that they should be buying Horsemarque.
@Sanquine because one of those things is not like the other
The thing is a lot of publishers have been pulling out of the UK for a long time because it's just too expensive and other countries have been giving tax breaks like in Canada.
Brexit is not going to make the scenario any better, that's for sure.
@Sanquine Because Scalebound wasn't far off from been done, just like Fable Legends. Plus people can see the pattern emerging, ms will just regress into relying on Halo, Gears and Forza again.
This sucks BIG TIME!
I've really enjoyed RIGS, I hope it lives on. They did a great job on it. Hope that the IP lives on and the talented folks at Guerrilla Cambridge land on their feet.
Gonna guess Bexit had a helping hand to why they close the studio, real shame, I just hope everybody at the studio soon finds another job.
@get2sammyb They did indeed make 24 the game. I loved it. Obviously had its flaws but it was a better game than it had any right to be. I still have it in fact as one of the few ps2 games I have kept.
This is really sad news. They had a great output, and killzone mercenary worked magic with the Vita. Exceptionally talented bunch of individuals and I hope they all land on their feet soon. Worrying to see yet another UK based studio close its doors...
Weren't some of the guys already relocated to the main studio in Amsterdam? I though I read something about that.
@get2sammyb I wouldn't say the Xbox had 'slim-pickings' as far as exclusives go but you are right that there is a big difference between cancelling a game in development and closing a studio that have just finished and released their project.
Scalebound though was also a big departure from their line-up of exclusives which may have been why it stood out. In a market dominated by sequels and their constant release of a few key franchises (like Halo, Forza, Gears), its easy to think their line-up is quite thin on the ground. Admittedly its not as diverse as Sony's and that may make it seem thinner, Sony also seem to make more noise about their 'indie' exclusives and of course have a lot of Japanese exclusives too to add to their diversity.
I get the impression that MS are dictating exactly what games developers, inc 3rd Party ones must make. They seem to insist that online features have to be shoehorned in. I hear Lionhead wanted to make Fable 4 but MS told them to make a 4v1 online game. I hear that Scalebound was quite different from the way it was portrayed at E3 and co-op was a small part of it but made much bigger by MS and people weren't impressed by the co-op but very interested in the SP experience.
Its very disappointing to hear of any closure or cancellation of projects - especially those that were different from the rest of the crowd. I hope that Guerilla Cambridge staff find jobs and go on to create some more great games in the future. I hope Scalebound gets resurrected - maybe not as 'Scalebound' in name.
I knw I defend MS a lot here but even I struggle to defend their decision over Scalebound. Sony's decision to close studios (I know MS have closed a few) is still absurd but if they aren't working, you can't expect these companies to pay a full development team to sit on their backsides for months. Its a shame that they didn't have a follow up project to get stuck into...
@get2sammyb I thought Brexit, for a company like Sony (HQ not being in U.K.) would be positively impacted in this case. They are a Dev shop and their main outlay would be salary which, due to weak sterling, would mean less (assuming Salary stays the same which is likely to be the case). Although opposite situation on Hardware and Software where it would be imported and hence less profit if prices are not adjusted accordingly.
Man, that sucks. Was really hoping that in the future we could have gotten a new Medieval game and/or maybe another decent handheld shooter for the Vita. I think it could have been awesome if they bought the Resistance IP and actually made a decent Resistance game for the Vita (or maybe just remaster the Trilogy for the Ps4 with online servers alive and kicking).
MS cancels Scalebound and now this. Great way for these two companies to start the year. Most importantly though, hopefully those effected bounce back quick and find work again soon. As far as the studio's games were concerned, didn't play a ton from it over the years but I really like Killzone: Mercenary.
@Sanquine
Xbox kind of is in trouble. The Switch has a lot of hype around it and PS4 has a nice list of exclusive games. Aside from Crackdown, Sea of Thieves and Halo Wars 2, the only interesting game that may get announced for this year is Forza Motorsport 7. We have no idea how the first two games will turn out, RTS are a niche genre and don't always work well on consoles and Forza is another Forza. But Phil Spencer wants everybody to believe the cancellation of one of the most interesting, maybe the most interesting, exclusive the console had lined up is a good thing. The Xbox division needs to get its sh*t together. The most exciting thing it has going for it is Project Scorpio but new hardware is nothing if it doesn't have good games and as much as I like each franchise, Forza, Gears of War and Halo will not cut it alone.
wow such a bad news:( I don't understand! Evolution , Liverpool and Cambridge studios with such fantastic games should be closed but that terrible London Studio with the worst games (sale and score) should continue making bad games! I really can't understand!
Well, that was quick. Another year, more closures.
PLEASE don't do a Microsoft SONY :-/ I still am sad and confused about Evolution Studios being shut down last year They were amazing, oh well.
It's a real shame, why are Sony shutting these UK studios? Studio Liverpool, Evolution. If it is related to Tax breaks the UK Government needs to get this addressed. There is so much talent in UK but fewer and fewer opportunities.
These studios were producing exciting IP's not just another banal FPS.
UK studios don't seem to do well with Sony. Who's next MM?
I'm more concerned about how this will impact VR. I have invested a decent amount of $$$ into it and now the studio with arguably the best VR game thus far has been shut down....not giving me warm and fuzzy feelings. Hope everyone affected by the closing all land on their feet.
@adf86 Yeah you can trust the banks.....
@get2sammyb I love 24, I picked up the game a few years ago for 50p but couldn't make it through it was just so bad haha
@Neolit yeah that one was pretty good, but personally, RIGS was the reason I purchased the PSVR, and I love it....though my schedule has kept me from the "challenge the developers" sessions they have been running. Guess that will not happen anymore. RIGS is greatly improved with the PS4 Pro, it's so much cleaner. I have most of the VR games out, but always circle back to Batman, Headmaster, and RIGS.
I feel like this was announced directly after the scalebound cancellation so as to fly under the radar a bit. Either way, both are sad, I loved the medievil games on PS1.
Wow just shy of its 20th anniversary
This is sad and it seems like narrow minded bull, yes vita is done with and yes Sony had a whole is still restructuring but for me they could have moved onto make stuff for PS4.
Really gutted for Devs and workers there. Killzone Mercenaries was a marvel on the Vita - I've been playing it on the PSTV and it feels like a PS3 title on a larger screen. Rigs did make me feel ill but it tried something quite innovative. Not a great time for UK devs. We are losing ground to those abroad.
What on Earth is Sony doing with it's British studios? I really hope they from new ones.
I`ve always respected the MediEvil series........
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