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UPDATE: Guitar Hero Dead, Massive Activision Layoffs

axe job

by Adam Biessener on February 09, 2011 at 04:06 PM

18,534 Views

156

UPDATE: Activision confirmed that its Guitar Hero division is closing, DJ Hero is being killed, and that True Crime Hong Kong is being canceled in its fourth-quarter conference call this afternoon. Our condolences to everyone who lost their jobs.

ORIGINAL STORY: Activision's quarterly financial conference call is going on right now, but the rumors are flying fast and furious in advance.

Eurogamer is reporting that DJ Hero developer Freestyle Games and longtime Activision studio Vicarious Visions have been hit by a wave of layoffs, the upcoming True Crime reboot has been canned, and Guitar Hero is dead.

No official sources have responded to comment as of yet, but a BioWare developer tweeted "Ugh sorry to hear about the Vicarious Visions layoffs today after Guitar Hero canceled. ***. Sounds like Freestyle (DJ Hero) got hit too."

Huge news if true. Updates should be coming to this story quickly as Activision's conference call continues this afternoon.

Email the author Adam Biessener, or follow on Twitter, and Game Informer.

Filed under: News, DJ Hero, Activision, Guitar Hero, Rumor, Vicarious Visions, layoffs, true crime, fail, Freestyle Games, cancellation, axe job

Comments

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by NoMercy85 Wednesday, February 09, 2011 at 03:38 PM

Everytime you see that big beautiful face, you just know its good news!
by Mike Wednesday, February 09, 2011 at 03:39 PM

It's really unfortunate, especially for anyone who still enjoys the games. Anyone have any brilliant ideas that would've saved the franchise? I really can't think of any direction they could've gone beyond what they did, except make a new game.
by Miyuki Snow Wednesday, February 09, 2011 at 03:40 PM

It's like they jump the gun so fast. That's just sad. =/
by metsfan417 Wednesday, February 09, 2011 at 03:41 PM

Kotick always has that creepy uncle look to him....*shiver*
by WolfReich Wednesday, February 09, 2011 at 03:41 PM

Oh no...I never saw this coming! (sarcasm)

Really though, the music game is all but dead for now. Maybe it'll creep back up one day, but the only time I ever hear of Rock Band or Guitar Hero now is on GameInformeronline...
by Koob24 Wednesday, February 09, 2011 at 03:45 PM

So if Guitar Hero is dead, and since MTV Games is gone, Rock Band is dead, what then!?!? Actually, I know Rock Band will be picked up by somebody else
by The Observer Wednesday, February 09, 2011 at 03:45 PM

Typical of them. "We can't can't make any more money off this franchise, so let's ditch it and run Call of Duty into the ground now."
by Playmaker3 Wednesday, February 09, 2011 at 03:47 PM

Booby has a crippy face not schocked about GH should have stopped releasing 3 games a year might have kept the series going longer
by Playmaker3 Wednesday, February 09, 2011 at 03:47 PM

Booby has a crippy face not schocked about GH should have stopped releasing 3 games a year might have kept the series going longer
by Irwin Guevara Wednesday, February 09, 2011 at 03:48 PM

Not surprised about Guitar Hero. Activision ran that franchise into the ground with the 20+ releases of it. And I was kinda looking forward to the True Crime reboot but I haven't heard of that game in a long time.
by King_Cold-Turkey Wednesday, February 09, 2011 at 03:49 PM

The only depressing news too me is the loss of jobs and the canned "True crime" reboot. I was really looking forward to that game.
by Darth Maul Wednesday, February 09, 2011 at 03:52 PM

Gosh dang, I think if these rumors are true, then Activision may be close to meeting its maker.
UPDATE: My God man! Why must the good die young!
by kmcroc Wednesday, February 09, 2011 at 03:53 PM

Maybe if Activisions parent company fired the D-bag pictured above & used his salary the maybe able to keep the True Crime Hong Kong team on till the release of the game. come on we all know bobby is an unnecessary evil that Activision can do without, it not like he's a Steve Jobs or Bill Gates kind of CEO OR COO. To those over at Vivendi wake up before your gaming division is destroyed by Satan.
by Slowe Wednesday, February 09, 2011 at 03:54 PM

Aww, was looking forward to True Crime....didn't care for GH since GH3. They ran that game in the ground, just like they're doing with CoD
by 7idledays Wednesday, February 09, 2011 at 03:57 PM

I can only hope that this happens with Call of Duty. Without the layoffs that is.
by Bobberino Wednesday, February 09, 2011 at 03:58 PM

How are they having lay offs if they own Call of Duty?
by Arkain Wednesday, February 09, 2011 at 04:01 PM

Not weird if Guitar Hero is dead, after Guitar Hero 3 then all the songs started getting crappier and crappier. it was doomed to happen
by Funky El Tomo Wednesday, February 09, 2011 at 04:03 PM

Why is everyone such a hater on COD? A new great game comes out every year that is completely worth buying.
by FamilyGuyGuy7 Wednesday, February 09, 2011 at 04:04 PM

I guess that's an unofficial crowning of Rock Band as king of music games...
by Dean Marchese Wednesday, February 09, 2011 at 04:04 PM

Theres that big ugly mug again.