Please support Game Informer. Print magazine subscriptions are less than $2 per issue
Sony Closes Driveclub Developer Evolution Studios
Update 3: Sony has confirmed Evolution's closure to us. The publisher shared a statement that has been circulating today calling the layoffs "compulsory redundancies."
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.
Update 2: Evolution senior community manager Jamie Brayshaw took to Twitter, confirming the studio's closure. Sony has yet to respond to our requests for comment.
Brayshaw says that Driveclub will continue under the PlayStation team's supervision. The title was recently shown at a PlayStation VR showcase during GDC.
It’s the end of an incredible era for #EvolutionStudios. Thanks to all of you: https://t.co/YYPJNvbMxd #DRIVECLUB pic.twitter.com/ERQiQ48SGR
— Jamie Brayshaw (@PhenomEvolution) March 22, 2016
Update 1: We're waiting to confirm Sony's statement, but former Evolution employee and Driveclub game director Paul Rustchynsky shared thoughts on Twitter this morning.
I've had an incredible time working for #EvolutionStudios, here's short statement from me: pic.twitter.com/9eITjpbddy
— Paul Rustchynsky (@Rushy33) March 22, 2016
Original Story (March 22, 2016 @ 10:36 a.m. Central):
After significant layoffs a year ago, Sony has reportedly closed Evolution Studios. The company’s most recent title, Driveclub, will live on in PlayStation VR when the hardware launches later this fall.
Evolution was founded in 1999 in the UK, and was responsible for the World Rally Championship and MotorStorm franchises. The studio was purchased by Sony in 2007.
Driveclub, which was released in 2014, suffered from significant problems with server loads. The company laid off a number of staff members in March 2015 as the team transitioned to support Driveclub as a service.
We've reached out to Sony to confirm reports and will update should we receive a response.
[Source: GamesIndustry]
Our Take
Our thoughts are with those affected. As we near the end of the fiscal year for many companies, we can only hope this is the last bit of this type of news.
I’d like to ask you to support Game Informer’s continued coverage of games with a subscription. For less than two dollars per issue, we mail you a full year of 10 print magazines, each with cover stories and preview features filled with exclusive details about the most exciting upcoming games. We profile and interview game creators. We look back on the rich history of gaming, and we celebrate what’s next.
Here on the website, we offer much of our content for free, including game reviews, daily news, videos, event coverage, and more – all with minimal ads.
We do so with a small editorial team, alongside contributing paid writers from around the world – over 65 individuals from 9 countries around the world, just in the last couple of years.
It’s not possible without support.
In a time when game makers and games coverage have faced hard struggles and layoffs, the future of this 30+ year magazine and community is at risk. Our new standalone magazine subscription is the number one way you can keep us alive – and we believe you’ll get a pretty fantastic gaming magazine in your mailbox every few weeks for your trouble.
Thank you.
