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Sony Studio Liverpool Closed

FanCensus says: "It has been reported that Sony Studio Liverpool has been closed. Founded in 1984 as Psygnosis the developer is responsible for the much loved Wipeout series as well as my favourite the Destruction Derby series."

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blog.fancensus.com
theunleashed645011d ago (Edited 5011d ago )

WTF!!!!!!!!!!! this is sad news, what was the reason? i don't understand.

EDIT: so this isn't sad news? really? to whoever disagreed.

Shikoro5011d ago

Yeah, I don't get it. This news is worthy of 100x "What in the flying fu*k, Sony??!". T_T

Also, what in freaking flying fu*k, Sony? I've always supported what they did, but as of late...

ABizzel15011d ago (Edited 5011d ago )

While it's sad it's expected to me. Unfortunately their games just are selling, and I guess it cost more money to keep them around than the profit they're bringing in, so any wise business who choose to let them go.

The WipEout games haven't broke the 500K (generally the point of profit for most games) threshold in sales since WipEout Pure for the PSP (2005). Although WipEout HD sales can't be tracked thanks to PSN, this still bodes bad for the franchise and the company.

Their other games as of late "Motorstorm" has been on a downward spiral since the first game with the latest game Motorstorm Apocalypse struggling to pass the 500k mark as well.

THe sad part is that both games are really good regardless of sales, but like the FPS genre the racing genre is too crowded (although not as much as FPS's), and worse the genre isn't as popular as it once was. You have Burnout, Need 4 Speed, Midnight Club, Ridge Racer, and Dirt varying for you money. On top of that other good racers come out like Pure, Split Second, and Blur. Then add in each consoles main selling franchises Gran Turismo, Forza and there's just too many racers to choose from.

That's 11 different racing games for the PS3 (excluding Twisted Metal). A wonderful and great variety, but at the end of the day TOO MANY unless you're a hardcore racing fan. But it not just an underperforming and overcrowded genre, it's gamers fault as well. For everyone saying they love these franchises and are sadden by the closure the sales didn't show it. While gaming is only a hobby for use IT'S A BUSINESS for them, and if money's not being made then someone's losing their job.

Hopefully it turns out to be a false rumor, because I don't want anyone to lose their job. Maybe they need a chance to design some other kind of game (different genre), or take the team and split them up among other studios.

A-Glorious-Dawn5011d ago

ABizzel

I agree, it's a very sad state of affairs though and truly a bummer for me.

I got Wipeout for free after the PSN fiasco,
I would have bought it to support the studio had I known how good that game is.

Wipeout is one of the most addictive racing games I have ever played, and it's a game the racing genre NEEDS. Of all the racing games you mentioned, not one can be compared to Wipeout, not because it's better than they are, but because it's unique, it has style, and lots of it.

long live studio Liverpool and please Sony, make more Wipeout games. I love them so much.

darthv725011d ago

made some great old school games. Shadow of the Beast especially was good. The turbografx super cd version is hands down the best (personally speaking) but obviously their talent on the amiga was what caught Sony's eye back in the day.

Winter47th5011d ago (Edited 5011d ago )

This is fucking HORRIBLE! I PLAYED EVERY SINGLE WIPEOUT GAME SINCE THE PS1 LAUNCH WTF!!!

It's the only racing games I played this gen.

+ Show (1) more replyLast reply 5011d ago
Irishguy955011d ago ShowReplies(3)
HarryMasonHerpderp5011d ago

I think we should wait for an official announcement.
If this is true though it's a dumb move from Sony, these guys have been with them since the first Playstation and delivered some amazing games.

Hopefully it's just hear say.

Jockamo5011d ago

Wipeout 2048 Facebook page: " "As some of you may have heard Sony have chosen to close Studio Liverpool as of today. This page will no longer be maintained by the WipEout Team.We have loved making every game, every minute and every one of you. Keep the faith, keep loving WipEout.Thank you for everything, Pilots. It's been an amazing journey and we'll miss you."

HarryMasonHerpderp5011d ago (Edited 5011d ago )

Awww this sucks!

The UK barely has any game Studios left as it is.
Wipeout is/was always a game you could count on to be good and a good showcase for Sony's platforms.

Not happy about this at all a little piece of my childhood has just been shutdown.

tachy0n5011d ago (Edited 5011d ago )

NO MORE WIPEOUT? i just bought Wipeout 2048 with all the DLC!!!!i love it!!
FFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFUUUUUUUUUUUUU UUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUU U UUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUU U UUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUU.. . ..............

gaffyh5011d ago

Does this mean no more Wipeout? What will i buy for my PS4 as launch title?!

These guys are so talented, hopefully they either start their own mini studio or get merged into other Sony first party studios.

Freak of Nature5011d ago

Sony Liverpool was working on two PlayStation 4 launch titles, Eurogamer has been told by a reliable source.

One of these was, unsurprisingly, a WipEout game described to us as "dramatically different" than previous games in the series. Another was a Splinter Cell-style game.

A source described the WipEout game as "far along". It had been in development for between 12 and 18 months.

A separate source told Eurogamer that the other game began life as a gangster style experience before it evolved into something akin to Splinter Cell. We've also heard that it used motion capture tech similar to that used by Team Bondi for LA Noire, but it was "a bit ahead of it".

All Sony Liverpool projects were cancelled by Sony this morning.
Source: http://www.eurogamer.net/ar...

RememberThe3575011d ago

The same eurogamer report said that Sony is trying to redistribute the staff to other studios/departments. They know they have talent there but they also knew it was time to do something else. Unfortunate.

Freak of Nature5011d ago (Edited 5011d ago )

Wait now...Who disagreed? LOL! I just posted news from Eurogamer. It's funny as soon as I post, I get a disagree on almost all my posts, no matter what I say, and I am as neutral a gamer as you can get, I play on everything...Who disagreed, common tell me why?

Cya...

sticky doja5011d ago

This is N4G. Do you really need to ask that question? Understanding the mind of a fanboy is like understanding the meaning of life. Few will ever achieve that while alive on this Earth.

blackbeld5011d ago (Edited 5011d ago )

No Way!!!!!!

I wait for the official announce by SONY.

MastaMold5011d ago (Edited 5011d ago )

Man this sucks hope WipEout gets made by another of Sony's 1st party devs also good luck to all the people that worked at Studio Liverpool

Sent from my PS Vita

dale_denton5011d ago

i feel you theunleashed64.. i was looking forward to a new destruction derby game.. dd2 was so dope on the ps1. i had endless hrs going the oposite way and causing a mass destruction.

+ Show (5) more repliesLast reply 5011d ago
5011d ago
PirateThom5011d ago (Edited 5011d ago )

What!?

Why in the name of everything would you do that?

Who is going to develop WipEout?!

Unless they're being merged with another studio, this is awful.

Edit: If they HAVE to close a studio... SCE London, seriously.

iamnsuperman5011d ago (Edited 5011d ago )

"If they HAVE to close a studio... SCE London, seriously"

Well maybe the internal report should more potential of sales with SCE London than the Liverpool studio. SCE London make the Singstar and eye pet franchises. Granted SCE Studio Liverpool made Wipeout (good series) it probably isn't as viable than Singstar and eye pet games who can be the family branch of Sony. I would agree with that decision

BitbyDeath5011d ago

SCE London, make the highly profitable PS Home so they won't be going anywhere.

Sucks Liverpool had to close

Captain Tuttle5011d ago

How are these guys closed and Team ICO still up and running?

And I don't even have a PS3

vega2755011d ago (Edited 5011d ago )

Who is to say team ICO could or couldn't be next. It may come after the release of TLG. I don't think they would close them while they are in the middle of their project.

Captain Tuttle5011d ago

How long have they been "in the middle" of that project though?

vega2755011d ago (Edited 5011d ago )

I agree they have been working on it for along time. But it would push it back even more if they just closed team ico and give it to another one of their studios. Because the new studio may not share the same vision team ico did in creating it.

i think if sony does decide to do it. they will wait and see how the game turns out before they close it down. but that may mean that the sells and the quality have to be good for the lenth of time it took to make it.

Almir9085011d ago

I don't see how team ICO managed to get themselves in such a financial state without even releasing one game this gen...It's pretty ridiculous if you ask me. As for studio liverpool closing I hope it's just being a new studio being re-named or remade. Because without them where is wipeout and my new favorite racing I.P. Motorstorm?

BitbyDeath5011d ago

Evolution Studios make Motorstorm.
They are a different company to Liverpool

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80°

(For Southeast Asia) New Price Changes for PS5, PS5 Pro, and PlayStation Portal remote player

For Southeast Asia, new price changes.

Prices effective starting May 1st, 2026.

Read Full Story >>
blog.playstation.com
15d ago Replies(1)
BeHunted15d ago

Looks like PlayStation took a hit with Marathon and is now quietly adjusting prices worldwide to recover the losses

andy8515d ago

Lets be honest raising prices doesn't do that when no one's buying it. I imagine the profit it greater selling 10 times more at a lower price

Pergele14d ago

Whatever you say buddy, let's all wear the tinfoil hats.

IceKoldKilla14d ago (Edited 14d ago )

LMFAO Your comment alone says a lot more about you than anything else. When has one game not selling 10 million copies made a company raise the prices of their console? Then Xbox would be costing $5000 by now lol. You remind of the crazy drug addicts on the street rambling on about conspiracies. xD You sure you don't need a hug, buddy?

ChunkyMonk14d ago

One game that Sony payed $200 million for. lol
Also, you sure were quick to get triggered. Maybe your the one who needs a hug?

Eonjay14d ago

If nothing else, we should be united against the real issue here. AI and unnecessary tariffs that are effecting all gamers.

+ Show (1) more replyLast reply 14d ago
Athlon10115d ago (Edited 15d ago )

The price increases are due to the RAM demand associated with AI and the US-Iran war. You can look to any business news website and local news to see that. Heck, even the 2026 Asus Zenbook Duo I've been eyeing has faced delays and has had a price increase of $400; that laptop has two specs. Asus is doing a staggered release with per-orders for the lower spec now and shipping in May and pre-orders for the higher spec that I'm eyeing starting in June. Basically, all computer manufactures are affected. It'll most likely start affecting smart phones too if it hasn't already. I can't remember the last time any major console maker (Nintendo, Sony, Sega, etc) increased the price of their console mid cycle outside of Microsoft just to make more profit.

S2Killinit14d ago

Its not the war. Its the RAM issue.

jznrpg14d ago

War is causing gas prices to rise. Transport of everything requires gas so the prices of those items go up as well. So it does have an impact

Athlon10114d ago (Edited 14d ago )

The blockage of the Straight of Hormuz due to the US-Iran war has affected raw components used in semi-conductor manufacturing such as bromine, aluminum, and helium. Iran had attacked the liquified natural gas (LNG) plant in Qatar which is a large producer (1/3 globally) of helium which is used in semiconductor etching. So it's the both the war and the RAM crises.

badz14914d ago

Oh no...should I get the Pro now before the price increase?

80°

Former Xbox Exec Says Developers Didn't Want a Sony Monopoly

Former Xbox executive Ed Fries comments on the early days of Xbox, the opinion of Japanese game companies, and more.

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insider-gaming.com
28d ago Replies(2)
Reaper22_28d ago

I dont think that'll ever happen. But i must say back in the day, they were definitely trying because they were more cash rich than their competitors.

CosmicTurtle27d ago

I think MS were and still are the richer company. They tried to acquire Sega back in the day (and considered doing so again more recently), they obviously bought exclusivity to Halo which was originally shown as a Mac title. I don’t think as a company MS can claim the moral high ground here. It’s a wilful lack of self awareness.

Of course Sony would try exactly the same if they had the resources, but when the PS2 dominated the industry was in a much healthier place with an abundance of great third parties.

This has been a depressing generation as far as first party decisions are concerned. The fact we are debating business plans rather than which game is better is a sad reflection of the state of things.

Darkseeker28d ago (Edited 28d ago )

There was Nintendo as well, Sony wouldn't have had a monopoly. In fact, the world would be better today if Xbox never existed in the first place. They pretty much brought all bad practices we have today. We might have gotten all of it either way, but not this early. In term of franchises, I don't think there is anything Microsoft released that would actually be missed if it didn't exist. Even Halo the world wouldn't notice if Halo didn't exist.

S2Killinit27d ago

MS was definitely a bad influence on gaming.

raWfodog28d ago

I think almost everyone will agree that a monopoly is not good for the industry. But that being said, the competition needs to be smart and strategic with their business. Simply buying up publishers and traditional third-party studios just to keep them out of the other companies reach is not a sustainable practice. That goes for all parties so don't think I'm just referring to Xbox.

I'm no business guru by any stretch of the imagination but I firmly believe that the best way to drive consumers to your software and hardware is to invest smart in your first-party studios. Give them full support and guidance in making unique, fun games that are only available to play in your ecosystem and the gamers will come.

Reaper22_28d ago (Edited 28d ago )

But first party studios aren't enough. They only make up a small portion of the industry. Without 3rd party there would be no industry for Microsoft or sony.Developing games take time and money and sometimes you gotta make moves to stay competitive.

raWfodog28d ago

Nah, I never said first-party was enough. I said it’s the ‘best way’ to drive gamers to your platform. 3rd-party is a free-for-all and there’s no guarantee that gamers will use your hardware to play the game. If you want to push your own software and/or hardware you need first-party, or at least exclusive deals with third-party studios.

SimpleDad28d ago

They Shure did a great job... 25 years later Xbox is dead.

Reaper22_28d ago

Then why be so emotional and continue to talk about it. Xbox will never die be ause it stays in so many people's head.

lodossrage28d ago

How can you even see him being "emotional" in that comment?

If anything, you're the emotional one, constantly trying to go at anyone that says anything against Microsoft. So when you call him emotional, it comes off as deflection

Elda27d ago

I own an XBSX & I can say it's becoming irrelevant out of the 3 current consoles.

28d ago Replies(2)
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40°

Sony Shows Off 20 Minutes of Crimson Desert on a Base PS5

Sony uploaded gameplay footage of Crimson Desert on a base PS5 running in what appears to be Quality Mode at a stable 30fps at 4K.

Read Full Story >>
powerupgaming.co.uk
BlazedKong54d ago

looks god awful on the base systems