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Volition Hiring 100 New Employees, Doubling Office Space
Last week saw a new version of Saints Row IV released, and if recent news is any indication, we should be expecting big things from Volition in the coming years. Following a near-death experience during the demise of THQ, the Saints Row studio has seen its fortunes reversed. The developer has thrived under Deep Silver and is in the process of growing.
The company has successfully petitioned the city of Champaign, Illinois for financial incentives to support a major expansion. The funds will assist the studio in doubling its existing 47,000 square-foot space and taking on 100 new employees.
Volition says it would have otherwise had to move outside the Illinois college town if assistance wasn’t received, but things seem to be headed in the right direction. The city will pay up to $150,000 in funding for space acquisition and renovation (which would more than account for doubling the existing space), $1,000 per employee hired, and a 10 percent discount on parking spaces leased from the city.
According to a memo sent by Volition to the city of Champaign in April, the studio employs 200 individuals, with an average salary of $81,000. The studio’s current in-development projects have not been announced, but we know that actor and comedian Jay Mohr has recorded voice work for an unreleased Saints Row title.
[Source: The News Gazette (East Central Illinois)]
Our Take
The pairing of Deep Silver and Volition has been good for both parties, and it's a pleasant change to be able to report growth in the industry. As you may recall, Volition used to manage two projects (Saints Row and Red Faction). The latter went to Nordic Games in the second round of auctions, leaving Volition working exclusively on Saints Row IV under Deep Silver (that we know of).
It's important to remember the technological leap that Volition took with Red Faction. I'd love to see what the studio could do with a brand new IP with more current technology.
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