WorthPlaying has confirmed that the rumored layoffs at Studio Liverpool are no longer rumor.
"wipEout HD developer Studio Liverpool, formerly known as Psygnosis, is being hit by layoffs as projects are canceled and people are being relocated to other studios. One former employee goes as far as to say that almost everybody got the pink slip virtually closing down the entire studio."
Here are seven retired racing game franchises that are overdue to make a comeback.
Still playing BLUR during lan sessions and having a blast, wouldn't mind ever getting a BLUR 2.
A new release on the Xbox Series X|S consoles this week has been yanked from sale, after it appeared to infringe on Sony’s software.
The shameless Anti-Gravity Racing WipEout appeared to include slightly edited emulated versions of the original WipEout and its successor WipEout 3: Special Edition, with minor texture changes and button prompt alterations.
But after being exposed in a Digital Foundry video – where it’s also revealed that developer LLS Games pinched a CGI reimagining of the original game’s intro from YouTube – it’s no longer available for sale.
The WipEout series was, at one point, considered to be a dazzling showcase for new Sony hardware. The original game accompanied the PS1's release in the West and arguably did a lot of sell the console to sceptical punters, while WipEout Pure and WipEout 2048 were jaw-dropping launch titles for the PSP and PS Vita, respectively.
PS4 sadly didn't get a WipEout at launch, although it did get the excellent Omega Collection in 2017, a pack which pulled together content from WipEout HD and the aforementioned PS Vita entry and holds the distinction of being the only instalment to top the UK sales charts. Had things turned out a little differently, we could have been playing one of the most dramatic reimaginings of the series yet seen on PS4; an entry which would have retained the anti-gravity mechanics but evolved the on-track action into something closer to a traditional racing game.
NOT STUDIO LIVERPOOL!?
SCE what are you doing to such a grand studio. Wipeout is awesome. why on earth would you close down a studio that makes such amazing games like Wipeout, and where did you relocate them to?
Guess we're never going to see a good WipEout game again.
Long live Fury.
On 29 January 2010 Sony made the following public statement; "It has been decided that production on a number of projects within Studio Liverpool will cease immediately due to project prioritisation. Our North West Studio Group has been and will continue to be a vital cog in the WWS family, with a history of producing genre defining games such as MotorStorm, WipEout, Formula 1 and WRC and this decision will have no impact of the role that the North West Studio Group will play in the future of all PlayStation platforms".
What does this mean for the WipEout franchise long term?
Only time will tell - although it's clear that the flagship series was being mothballed for a while anyway, after a relative glut of titles since 2005's WipEout Pure.
WipEoutZone extends best wishes to everyone affected by this corporate cost-cutting maneuver.
Source: http://www.wipeoutzone.com/...
One of my favorite racing series. Damn, Liverpool will be missed.
Sad to hear. Wipeout HD = quality