Sony has issued a statement today confirming that DriveClub developer Evolution Studios has closed.
The studio was behind franchises including World Rally Championship and Motorstorm but DriveClub was a difficult project for the developer and Sony – suffering delays and severe online problems after launch. 55 staff were let go from Evolution a year ago and today Sony has decided to make the remaining staff redundant.
The company was founded in 1999 by Martin Kenwright and Ian Hetherington and was based in Runcorn, UK. It’s the second major British developer to close, with Microsoft recently announcing plans to shutter Lionhead and cancelling Fable Legends.
DriveClub game director Paul Rustchynsky posted the following statement on his Twitter account:
I've had an incredible time working for #EvolutionStudios, here's short statement from me: pic.twitter.com/9eITjpbddy
— Paul Rustchynsky (@Rushy33) March 22, 2016
Sony has also issued a statement, which you can read in full below courtesy of GamesIndustry.biz, and notes that, where possible, it will reallocate staff to other internal studios and will hold talks with other developers in the area.
Regular reviews take place throughout SCE Worldwide Studios, ensuring that the resources that we have in such a competitive landscape can create and produce high quality, innovative and commercially viable projects.
As part of this process we have reviewed and assessed all current projects and plans for the short and medium term and have decided to make some changes to the European studios structure.
As a result, it has been decided that Evolution Studio will close.
It is regrettable that this decision will lead to compulsory redundancies. We accept that this decision will mean that we risk losing high calibre staff but by focusing on other Studios that already have exciting new projects in development we believe we will be in a stronger position going forward and able to offer the best possible content of the highest quality for our consumers.
Where possible we will try to reallocate people onto other projects. If appropriate opportunities are not possible within the company, we will assist staff in any way we can, including speaking with local employers and with other development companies.
Evolution has been an important part of SCE Worldwide Studios for over 10 years – working on ground-breaking racing titles like WRC, Motorstorm, and DRIVECLUB.
This decision should not take anything away from the great work that Evolution has produced.
The rash of recent studio closures and layoffs can be attributed, at least in part, to the fact that the fourth quarter of the financial year ends on March 31st.
