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Camel

By Camel

Camel

By Camel •

DRIVECLUB, You Will Be Missed

Thanks Evo for the Good Times!

Sony decided to unveil just before the Easter bank holiday that they were in the process of closing down Evolution Studios (also gave us WRC and Motorstorm) which means that DRIVECLUB, at least eventually will be nothing more than a distant memory. Happy Easter everybody.

 

A game that has shown so much promise and so much potential is going to be pulled away from right in front of us. Much like another franchise that a lot of us have fond memories of.

 

Sony's statement:

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.

Evo Game Director, Paul Rustchynsky and Senior Community Manager, Jamie Brayshaw took to Twitter to voice their opinions on the closure:

 

 

 

On the bright side, the former Content and Community Manager of Need For Speed 2015 developer Ghost Games would be happy to see them join the team. (who wouldn't!)

 

 

Evo pushed the boundaries of the technology and created masterpieces that will be remembered in the hearts and minds of their many fans. They will be missed. We at turboduck wish the whole team good luck for the future and look forward to seeing what they do next.

 

Hopefully the DRIVECLUB IP will do well within the PlayStation household and will get the attention it had been getting from Evo, although it's hard to say to if the talent and passion they showed the game will continue with whichever outfit gets tasked with it next.

 

Perhaps it might even be sold on to another developer (we hear Activision love to kill good things - still missing you Bizarre Creations) who can and will do the game justice. Or maybe even the staff of Evolution Studios will split from Sony and start up again. Check out this teasing tweet from the former game director...

 

 

There's still hours of enjoyment to be had from DRIVECLUB for myself with the recent purchase of the bikes expansion still to explore. So for the time being we can still all enjoy the game as it stands, but without any future updates from those that took it to where it is now.

 

driveclub-feb2016update-oldtown_4

 

I for one would like to say a massive thank you to all of those involved with the making of DRIVECLUB and also everyone (developers and players) for persevering through it's somewhat questionable and rocky start to life, helping make it into the game that we have today. Good luck to those that will be affected as a result of this studio closure and all the best for your future!

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