Disney Shutters Black Rock, But Three New Studios Arise
Split/SecondIt's sad when bad things happen to good studios.
Earlier this year, Split/Second and Pure developer Black Rock Studios suffered a big "reduction in workforce," a move that left only 40 employees on the team. But obviously, that was only the first step, as Disney has now confirmed to Eurogamer that Black Rock will be closed down completely.
"Disney Interactive Studios confirms that Black Rock Studios' current project has not been greenlit for further development, consequently the company informed employees yesterday of the intent to enter a consultation process on the proposal to close the studios."
One inside source complained that Disney did a poor job handling the Brighton studio, as the massive corporation typically outsourced games to other companies Black Rock "was more than capable of producing." The source also cited a lack of advertising and support for their titles.
But there is a silver lining in all this; actually, there are three silver linings: Roundcube Entertainment, led by Split/Second director Nick Baynes, ShortRound Games, created by four former Black Rock department directors, and Boss Alien, started by Pure director Jason Avent. You just can't keep good designers down.
Tags: black rock, split second, split/second, disney
7/1/2011 10:31:55 AM Ben Dutka
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Comments (19 posts)
Looking Glass
Friday, July 01, 2011 @ 10:48:31 AM
Reply
Last edited by Looking Glass on 7/1/2011 10:49:05 AM
7 up, 0 down
CrusaderForever
Friday, July 01, 2011 @ 11:36:00 AM
Oh by the way, it's 4X XP weekend for RDR in celebration of the July 4th! I played for over 2 hours last night and went up 12 levels! I got 7600XP on Pike's Basin! I am level 37 and should get to 50 along with my Platinum by this weekend! :)
Last edited by CrusaderForever on 7/1/2011 11:37:09 AM
3 up, 0 down
Temjin001
Friday, July 01, 2011 @ 11:46:20 AM
0 up, 0 down
Qubex
Friday, July 01, 2011 @ 12:39:55 PM
Q!
"play.experience.enjoy"
1 up, 0 down
Danny007
Friday, July 01, 2011 @ 4:13:54 PM
0 up, 0 down
BikerSaint
Friday, July 01, 2011 @ 12:08:17 PM
Reply
Let's hope they'll at least, do so for these 3 new splintered-off studios!!!!!
Last edited by BikerSaint on 7/1/2011 12:09:55 PM
1 up, 0 down
Qubex
Friday, July 01, 2011 @ 12:41:44 PM
All this makes a soup of great failure!
Q!
"play.experience.enjoy"
1 up, 0 down
CanadianGuy420
Friday, July 01, 2011 @ 12:57:59 PM
Reply
Last edited by CanadianGuy420 on 7/1/2011 12:59:06 PM
1 up, 0 down
Zorigo
Friday, July 01, 2011 @ 2:28:45 PM
Reply
Last edited by Zorigo on 7/1/2011 2:28:55 PM
1 up, 1 down
PAKINIPS
Friday, July 01, 2011 @ 2:29:44 PM
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Was looking forward to a second.
:(
6 up, 0 down
A2K78
Friday, July 01, 2011 @ 2:41:23 PM
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Overall I see the high cost of making games as being the factor for LucasArts, Warner, Viacom/MTV, and now Disney; the Vivendi Group being the only benefactor thanks to COD.
0 up, 0 down
A2K78
Friday, July 01, 2011 @ 2:54:14 PM
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Whenever a publisher shuts down a developer don't blame corporate greed, because I'm sure if you were running Disney and had to make the painful choice of de-investing in a entity that wasn't living up to the expectation you want then common sense would say shut it down, this after investing millions into it.
Its a shame Black Rock had to be shut down, but you can't blame Disney for terminating a business that was probably bleeding them money in the first place.
0 up, 2 down
Danny007
Friday, July 01, 2011 @ 4:15:21 PM
Reply
2 up, 0 down
Lawless SXE
Friday, July 01, 2011 @ 5:07:01 PM
Reply
0 up, 0 down
BikerSaint
Friday, July 01, 2011 @ 7:59:39 PM
And as of yesterday, you can add Ignition-UK to that list, they've just been given their 30 notice to close up.
So we can forget about War Devil ever getting finished(after 2 stoppages already)unless another studio is able to pick it up.
And Ignition-Japan is probably going to shutter it's doors too, but right after they're done on the game they've been working on.
http://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/2011-06-28-ignition-devs-given-30-days-notice
0 up, 0 down
A2K78
Friday, July 01, 2011 @ 9:21:14 PM
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its not a bit rough, its ridiculous given the high budgets game developers have budgt. What's even worst is the fact these high game budget are eating into the operating resources of developers which in turn forces them to shut down.
"One inside source complained that Disney did a poor job handling the Brighton studio, as the massive corporation typically outsourced games to other companies Black Rock "was more than capable of producing." The source also cited a lack of advertising and support for their titles."
I have a problem with this so-called inside source complaining about Disney and say this because this employee disgrundled as to blame disney.
0 up, 0 down
___________
Saturday, July 02, 2011 @ 4:08:19 AM
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why is it that the sh*t developers like IW, monolith, day one studios, the developers who release crap after crap after crap continue to release crap.
but the fantastic developers like kaos studios, bizzare creations and these guys get closed down?
no justice in this industry what so ever!
release crap and succeed, release gold and your fired.
what the?
BLUR and split second were brilliant games!
much more worthy of sequels then the crap getting spewed out during the year!
0 up, 0 down
Fabi
Reply
Friday, July 01, 2011 @ 10:46:56 AM