The Untold Story of TimeSplitters and Free Radical Design 2.0

The TimeSplitters series, a first-person shooter franchise that originated on the PS2, had been dormant for years. Steve Ellis, the founder of Free Radical Design, was approached by Koch Media, now known as Plaion, to revive the series. Ellis was given a small budget to build a prototype, and he assembled a team of mostly graduates to work on the project. The team faced numerous challenges, including the COVID-19 pandemic, which forced them to work from home for two years. Despite these obstacles, they managed to build a prototype and pitch it to Plaion, who gave them the green light to form a new studio. The decision to create a new game in the series was ambitious, as TimeSplitters had never been a massive hit, but Ellis was determined to make it work. Ellis had previously been approached about creating a remaster of the earlier games, but he believed that the costs would not justify the potential return. He also felt that simply remastering the old games would not be enough to satisfy both old and new fans. The team explored different concepts, including one that was compared to Fortnite, but Ellis emphasized that they were not trying to clone the popular battle royale game. The team grew to 80 people, mostly graduates, and they worked together in an office, which Ellis believed was essential for creativity and collaboration. However, despite their progress, the team was ultimately affected by Embracer's cost-cutting measures, and Ellis was forced to close the doors on Free Radical Design. The experience was tough, especially for the young team members who had not had the chance to see their first game through to completion. Ellis is now taking a break, but he admits that he is still drawn to game development. The future of TimeSplitters remains uncertain, and Ellis is not sure if he will be involved in any future projects. The attempted revival of TimeSplitters serves as a reminder of the challenges and risks involved in game development, but also the passion and dedication of the people who work in the industry.