WTF sony... Sony closes Studio Liverpool (Wipeout)

Apparently (which sucks if true)

neogaf link

source from neogaf (which doesnt really look like a source)

Confirmation from twitter??

Thanks to theguardian03 for catching this statement

"As part of SCE Worldwide Studios, we do regular reviews to ensure that the resources we have can create and produce high quality, innovative and commercially viable projects in an increasingly competitive market place."

"As part of this process, we have reviewed and assessed all current and planned projects for the short and medium term and have decided to make some changes to our European Studios."

It has been decided that Liverpool Studio should be closed. Liverpool Studio has been an important part of SCE Worldwide Studios since the outset of PlayStation, and have contributed greatly to PlayStation over the years. Everyone connected with Liverpool Studio, past and present, can be very proud of their achievements.

"However, it was felt that by focusing our investment plans on other Studios that are currently working on exciting new projects, we would be in a stronger position to offer the best possible content for our consumers."

"Our Liverpool Facility will continue to operate, housing a number of other vital WWS!E and SCEE Departments. This should not take anything away from the great work WWS are doing and the incredible games and services that we have made, and continue to make."sony

Even though its a loss, and i love wipeout... thats all they have pretty much done this gen... wipeout hd and the vita one... i guess its understandable, but still sucks if true

Th

I love Wipeout:(

Whaaaaaaaat, don't like alot of Racing Type games but I enjoyed Wipeout:(

i've lost faith in sony.

Might aswell say it RIP to Colony Wars, Wipeout and any other fantastic Psygnosis Ip's that fell into relative disuse, sony got from that buyout years ago.Actually one of the few studios i care bout is closed down so many good games from them back in the day they were Sony's ace in the hole.

RIP Psychnosis, I have good memories with gems like Colony Wars, G-Police and Wipeout. Goodbye Sony, PS3 was my last console ever.

Whaaaaaaaat, don't like alot of Racing Type games but I enjoyed Wipeout:(

Blake135

Still though Liverpool made Rollcage aswell which was like the best racing game of the PS1 era since it was so strange and diffrent despite being formulaic of mario kart it had this weird feeling too it and it was just ahead of its time, shame sony let it fall into disuse.

First time in a while i think i can honestly say sony are getting really dumb.

Working in the games industry is career russian roulette.

F-Zero was a better futuristic racing series anyways.

Too bad for those developers though.

Working in the games industry is career russian roulette.

tenaka2

Its actually sad considering the amount of history and how much sucess and how they were a key part of the original PS1's sucess and sony looked to them a lot when it came to dev kit design and they had the philosophy that consisted of being primarily based on cheap PC hardware which in the backrooms meant a lot in terms of cost.

Only a year ago sony said Liverpool was a vital cog in their WWS ecosystem and liverpool handle dealings with companies like media molecule (before buyout) giving them advice on the platforms.

Its a sad day like, considering the history and them being a vital part to Sony's success in the console industry.

Thats a damn shame, hope the devs can be assimilated into the other studios.

I didn't realize Psygnosis lasted this long. Last I heard of them was back on the Commodore Amiga.....Then, I just remembered Wipeout.

If Wipeout isn't given to another studio then I'm going to CRY! :cry: My second favourite racing franchise ever behind Burnout. :cry: I love you Psygnosis!

What?! :|

Sony, please don't be like Microsoft... Keep us fans delighted.

I'm starting to think that Sony really is doomed :|

Apparently (which sucks if true)

neogaf link

source from neogaf (which doesnt really look like a source)

Confirmation from twitter??

Thanks to theguardian03 for catching this statement

[quote="sony"]

"As part of SCE Worldwide Studios, we do regular reviews to ensure that the resources we have can create and produce high quality, innovative and commercially viable projects in an increasingly competitive market place."

"As part of this process, we have reviewed and assessed all current and planned projects for the short and medium term and have decided to make some changes to our European Studios."

It has been decided that Liverpool Studio should be closed. Liverpool Studio has been an important part of SCE Worldwide Studios since the outset of PlayStation, and have contributed greatly to PlayStation over the years. Everyone connected with Liverpool Studio, past and present, can be very proud of their achievements.

"However, it was felt that by focusing our investment plans on other Studios that are currently working on exciting new projects, we would be in a stronger position to offer the best possible content for our consumers."

"Our Liverpool Facility will continue to operate, housing a number of other vital WWS!E and SCEE Departments. This should not take anything away from the great work WWS are doing and the incredible games and services that we have made, and continue to make."campzor

Even though its a loss, and i love wipeout... thats all they have pretty much done this gen... wipeout hd and the vita one... i guess its understandable, but still sucks if true

Th

I'm starting to think that Sony really is doomed :|

parkurtommo

[QUOTE="campzor"]

Apparently (which sucks if true)

neogaf link

source from neogaf (which doesnt really look like a source)

Confirmation from twitter??

Thanks to theguardian03 for catching this statement

[quote="sony"]

"As part of SCE Worldwide Studios, we do regular reviews to ensure that the resources we have can create and produce high quality, innovative and commercially viable projects in an increasingly competitive market place."

"As part of this process, we have reviewed and assessed all current and planned projects for the short and medium term and have decided to make some changes to our European Studios."

It has been decided that Liverpool Studio should be closed. Liverpool Studio has been an important part of SCE Worldwide Studios since the outset of PlayStation, and have contributed greatly to PlayStation over the years. Everyone connected with Liverpool Studio, past and present, can be very proud of their achievements.

"However, it was felt that by focusing our investment plans on other Studios that are currently working on exciting new projects, we would be in a stronger position to offer the best possible content for our consumers."

"Our Liverpool Facility will continue to operate, housing a number of other vital WWS!E and SCEE Departments. This should not take anything away from the great work WWS are doing and the incredible games and services that we have made, and continue to make."ronvalencia

Even though its a loss, and i love wipeout... thats all they have pretty much done this gen... wipeout hd and the vita one... i guess its understandable, but still sucks if true

Th

From neo gaf topic:

I know it,s probably just a coincidence but Vita seems on to be death knell of Sony first party.

Bigbig Studios releases Vita game,Sony Closes them

Zipper releases Vita game Sony closes them

Studios Liverpoll releases Vita game,Sony closes them.

:(

secondeddelta3074

I still remember Psygnosis as an Amiga CDTV/CD32 developers.

The devs should return to thier roots and support the PC.

What?! :|

Sony, please don't be like Microsoft... Keep us fans delighted.

GamerwillzPS

Yes, and lose a truckload of money in the process just to keep a select few fans happy...

The studio has made just 2 current gen games. If it's not financially viable to keep the company open, don't. That's business.

F-Zero was a better futuristic racing series anyways.

Too bad for those developers though.

FireEmblem_Man

[QUOTE="GamerwillzPS"]

What?! :|

Sony, please don't be like Microsoft... Keep us fans delighted.

balfe1990

Yes, and lose a truckload of money in the process just to keep a select few fans happy...

The studio has made just 2 current gen games. If it's not financially viable to keep the company open, don't. That's business.

[QUOTE="delta3074"] secondedronvalencia

I still remember Psygnosis as an Amiga CDTV/CD32 developers.

The devs should return to thier roots and support the PC.

[QUOTE="GamerwillzPS"]

What?! :|

Sony, please don't be like Microsoft... Keep us fans delighted.

balfe1990

Yes, and lose a truckload of money in the process just to keep a select few fans happy...

The studio has made just 2 current gen games. If it's not financially viable to keep the company open, don't. That's business.

Exactly,Sony is in a bad spot for years now,and many smaller and less active studios will have to go if they wish to come out alive.

What were cows expecting,that Sony will get rid of all the losses without losing any studio,or cancelling any project? :?

From neo gaf topic:

I know it,s probably just a coincidence but Vita seems on to be death knell of Sony first party.

Bigbig Studios releases Vita game,Sony Closes them

Zipper releases Vita game Sony closes them

Studios Liverpoll releases Vita game,Sony closes them.

:(

bogorad

[QUOTE="GamerwillzPS"]

What?! :|

Sony, please don't be like Microsoft... Keep us fans delighted.

balfe1990

Yes, and lose a truckload of money in the process just to keep a select few fans happy...

The studio has made just 2 current gen games. If it's not financially viable to keep the company open, don't. That's business.

I know, I know.

This is the result of the bad economy. It is expected.

I guess you could say that they were...

...wiped out

(in all seriousness this is sad news)

I'm starting to think that Sony really is doomed :|

parkurtommo

So far they are merely "trimming the fat."Someone else could take over the IP.

But this shows what happens when you overlook the financials.

Nintendo is making massive investments right now (online infrastructure, 3DS sold at a loss to gain marketshare which means more 3rd party support), reaching out to other studios looking for partnerships (P-100, Platinum Games / Other M, Team Ninja / etc.) and they are expanding their internal studios resources in preparation for HD development.

Sony is trending the other way, not extreme by any means (yet...)

Deleted my thread for the discussion to remain here.

On topic, sad news for the fans.

Who is next? they already closed two studios.

TheGuardian03

[QUOTE="balfe1990"]

[QUOTE="GamerwillzPS"]

What?! :|

Sony, please don't be like Microsoft... Keep us fans delighted.

GamerwillzPS

Yes, and lose a truckload of money in the process just to keep a select few fans happy...

The studio has made just 2 current gen games. If it's not financially viable to keep the company open, don't. That's business.

I know, I know.

This is the result of the bad economy. It is expected.

There's more to it than bad economy...

Among other things,bad corporate management played its part too.

[QUOTE="parkurtommo"]

I'm starting to think that Sony really is doomed :|

SuperFlakeman

So far they are merely "trimming the fat."Someone else could take over the IP.

But this shows what happens when you overlook the financials.

Nintendo is making massive investments right now (online infrastructure, 3DS sold at a loss to gain marketshare which means more 3rd party support), reaching out to other studios looking for partnerships (P-100, Platinum Games / Other M, Team Ninja / etc.) and they are expanding their internal studios resources in preparation for HD development.

Sony is trending the other way, not extreme by any means (yet...)

[QUOTE="GamerwillzPS"]

[QUOTE="balfe1990"]

Yes, and lose a truckload of money in the process just to keep a select few fans happy...

The studio has made just 2 current gen games. If it's not financially viable to keep the company open, don't. That's business.

Rocker6

I know, I know.

This is the result of the bad economy. It is expected.

There's more to it than bad economy...

Among other things,bad corporate management played its part too.

Probably. Sony sucks with marketing and advertising.

Sad news for gaming. Its bad to see a Developer shut down.
Maybe it has to do with other projects and such, who knows...

Well that sucks. I use to try out some of the games that they published like Shadow of the Beast. Sorry they are gone.

Might have to do with Gaikai.Bazooka_4ME

If this is the case, then my loyalty to PlayStation will end after 18 years.

F-Zero was a better futuristic racing series anyways.

Too bad for those developers though.

FireEmblem_Man