The Resurgence of TimeSplitters and Free Radical Design's Rebirth

I had high hopes for the return of TimeSplitters, a first-person shooter series that initially launched on the PS2 and was developed by Free Radical Design. The team behind it, including Steve Ellis, David Doak, Karl Hilton, and Graeme Norgate, had previously worked on GoldenEye and Perfect Dark. The initial TimeSplitters game was well-received, but it was the second installment that gained critical acclaim and achieved breakthrough success. A third game, TimeSplitters: Future Perfect, was released in 2005 but didn't quite match the success of its predecessor. Free Radical's fortunes took a turn for the worse with the disappointing launch of its new IP, Haze, and a failed publishing deal, which led to the company's bankruptcy in 2008. TimeSplitters remained dormant until 2018, when Koch Media, now known as Plaion, acquired the rights to the franchise. Steve Ellis recalls being on holiday when the news broke and deciding to reach out to Klemens Kundratitz, CEO of Plaion, to discuss potential plans for the franchise. Ellis suggested setting up a new team to create a new game, and the idea took off from there. Ellis was given a small budget to build a prototype and hired a small team, mostly consisting of graduates. However, the COVID-19 pandemic hit, and the team had to adapt to working from home. Despite the challenges, the team made progress, and by the end of the prototype period, they had grown to 14 people and pitched their idea to Plaion. The decision to form a new studio seemed ambitious, given that TimeSplitters had been dormant for years and was never a massive commercial success. Building a AAA team to create a new game in the series was a risk, and some might argue that it would have been wiser to start with a remaster of the earlier games. Ellis explains that he had lost count of the number of times he had been approached about a TimeSplitters remaster over the past 20 years. However, he notes that remasters are often expected to be quick and cheap to produce, which is not feasible for a game like TimeSplitters, given its complex characters and environments. The cost of asset creation has increased significantly, making it difficult to justify the costs of a remaster. Ellis also points out that TimeSplitters 2, the game that fans often request a remaster of, was not designed with online multiplayer in mind and would require significant reworking. The closest thing to a new TimeSplitters game was a 4K port of TimeSplitters 2 hidden within the 2016 game Homefront: The Revolution, developed by Dambuster Studio. Dambuster Studio has a connection to Free Radical Design, as it was formed from the ashes of Crytek UK, which had previously acquired Free Radical's assets. Ellis started building his new team within the same offices, but he had to do so with a completely new team, as the Dambuster Studio team was not allowed to be involved. Ellis has always been a fan of hiring graduates, as they bring a fresh perspective and are not jaded by previous experiences. However, building a new team from scratch proved to be a challenging task, especially with the added complexity of using Unreal Engine for the first time. The team faced numerous challenges, including a hiring freeze imposed by Embracer in mid-2023, which limited their ability to grow. Despite these challenges, the team made progress, and by the end of 2023, they had grown to 80 people. Unfortunately, the team was not immune to Embracer's cost-cutting measures, and in December 2023, Ellis was forced to close the doors on Free Radical Design for the second time. The closure was particularly tough for the young team, who didn't get a chance to see their first game through to completion. Ellis notes that the current job market is challenging, especially for junior developers, and many of his former team members are struggling to find new roles. For now, Ellis is taking a break, although he admits to still being involved in the gaming industry. The future of TimeSplitters remains uncertain, and it's unclear if Plaion or Embracer will revisit the franchise. Ellis is hesitant to get involved again, given the significant letdown he experienced with the attempted revival.