Evolution Studios, the developers behind World Rally Championship, Motorstorm, and Driveclub, have been shut down by Sony. The studios latest game, Driveclub, was a rocky project from the start, it seems. Online problems and multiple delays plagued the game, and Sony had recently cut 55 people from the studio just last year. Now, it looks like it made the decision to close down the studio for good.
In a statement released by Sony, it says the company will try and reallocate members of the team into other studios, but recognizes that it will lose some of the developers. You can read the full statement below:
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.
Just recently at this years GDC, they were even showing off Driveclub VR to convention goers. According to the studios, the future of the games are “in Playstation’s hands”, which seems to show that another team will be taking over for them.
Check out the latest Tony’s Take on this subject:
