Evolution Studios lives on – kind of! The Runcorn-based outfit, shuttered by Sony last month, has been snapped up by Codemasters, and will continue the legacy that it left off – albeit on a multiformat basis moving forwards. It's unclear whether it will retain the studio name – that doesn't appear to be the case – but many of the employees that built DriveClub will collaborate once again on a new project. Great news!
While brands such as MotorStorm will remain under Sony's control, Mick Hocking – who managed Evolution Studios – has said that the team's planning to work on new ideas. This apparently makes Codemasters the biggest racing-focused developer in the world. It's a move that the PlayStation maker's pleased about, too.
"We obviously asked [Sony], once we decided that it was a great decision, if they were happy with it, and they were very happy," said CEO Frank Sagnier. "They were happy for the team, for the fact that it was two British companies coming together. They felt that it was a very good match, but we didn't ask permission in the first place."
To be honest, it's rare that there's a win-win situation in this industry, but this is one of them: Evolution Studios gets to keep making great games, Codemasters expands its portfolio, and PS4 owners will still get the benefit of the developer's output. It's great news for everyone involved really – and a relief to see a legendary British studio live on like this.
Welcome back, Evo – we can't wait to see what you do next.
[source gamesindustry.biz]
Comments 27
So pleased for Evolution! This is a brilliant result for everyone involved. Can't wait to see what they do next.
Great!!! So now make a motorstorm please ! DD
@fybyfyby They can't make MotorStorm in name, but they could make a "spiritual" successor.
@fybyfyby @get2sammyb I'd love to see them go on to make a Motorstorm-esque arcade racer, I miss those games!
@fybyfyby @Quintumply I always wanted WaterStorm. Friggin' jet-skis, outrageous water physics, crazy weather effects like in MotorStorm Apocalypse — COME ON!
I noticed this information elsewhere. It makes a lot of sense as Codemasters has become synonymous with racing games. I hope they end up making more 'Arcade' style racers rather than all these 'Sim' based ones. I would love a 'Motorstorm' style racer! I think there is too much competition for sim based racers - we have GT and Forza (for exclusive based games - I doubt Driveclub is going away just because Evolution have left Sony), Project Cars, Assetto Corsa, Dirt Rally and no doubt a new F1 due as well. I would much prefer something 'fun' like Motorstorm....
Excellent News. They should make a game 'like' the beginning of MotorStorm 1 where all the Cars were doing stunts and a bit like Destruction Derby & Dirt Showdown to) That would be MEGA-COOL
@get2sammyb @Quintumply On PS3 I loved wipeout HD and motorstorm series. Maybe more classic ones (up to pacific rift). IDK but I think now there is no game with similar atmosphere and crazy pace.
Anyway Im glad evolution will continue to develop and I think codemasters are good choice, maybe best I can imagine. I hope they will not abuse evolution to restart McRae
I'd love them to do a burnout style racer, or motostorm, just need a break from sims
@BAMozzy I agree. While I think it's great that we've seen a resurgence in racers lately, it would be nice to see a few on the more arcadey side of the spectrum (beyond Need for Speed, which kind of fell flat). Sony has WipEout and Motorstorm sat in its pocket, Criterion is still making whatever that Beyond Cars thing is, and Three Fields Entertainment (indie comprising ex-Criterion people) are gearing up for an eventual successor to Burnout. So, there's great potential for arcade racers. Hopefully we see something soon!
This is great news! As well as a great fit.
This is awesome news.
This is great news I've been playing Codemasters games since I learned to use my thumbs
@Quintumply I do wonder if 'Need for Speed' is partly responsible for the death of 'Arcade' style racers. Churning out game after game that flooded the market and the drop in quality and sales have put developers off from this market. Seeing how 'successful' games like Forza is and the accolades these 'sim' based racers get, its as if the want to emulate rather than differentiate from these...
Forza Horizon does a good job of bridging the two styles - Arcade and Sim but I still miss the pure Arcade style fun. I loved Arcade Rally games too because it was more fun drifting around 'dirt' even 'ice' tracks and the courses felt more varied too. Almost every 'sim' racer has tracks that merge into each other - slightly different layout but all on Tarmac, all have the same red/white markings on corners etc. Games like Motorstorm had very unique courses with multiple routes through them that favoured certain vehicle types, crazy jumps and variety of surfaces too. This made racing a lot more fun and offered more variety on the same course. The only 'variety' sim racers offer is 'speed' based purely on the vehicles class - 'S' class cars going a lot faster round the same course a 'C' class car will...
I get so bored of Sim racing games as after a while it feels like deja vu. I am certainly no car mechanic/race engineer etc. I have NO idea what tweaking the various 'parts' will do - and to be honest I have no interest in learning either. I normally end up buying 'parts' that take me as close to a 'set' limit without going into the next category (i.e being at the max limit of a class) and keep all the settings at 'default'. I race, hopefully win, move onto the next 'very similar' track, race, hopefully win, move onto the next 'very similar track.....
Yay!
Sweet!
Good for them,i expect whatever is in the pipeline is going to be pretty rad.
When Arcade racing games died so did my desire to play racing games.
I am glad that the employees found a new job so quickly.
This is great and uplifting news So happy to hear this!
@Grawlog They hired the staff.
The Games Industry article Sammy's linked to has the finer details: http://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/2016-04-05-evolution-studios-joins-codemasters-hocking-becomes-vp-of-product
Cool. I'm mostly happy that they got jobs, but these two developers coming together is definitely a plus.
Can't wait to see what they have in store. I'm still kinda waiting for some more racing games on PS4.
Good on ya, mates! Hope your future endeavors are spectacular! Show the world WHY you deserve to be here!
Now go and buy the Ridge Racer franchise off Namco and we are all good codemasters and also make a new dizzy game.
Great bit of business from Codemasters, their next couple of games are going to be awesome!
Awesome News
Be nice to see a new Motostorm game or a PS4 version of Forza 2
I think the biggest plus here is that these people haven't lost thier jobs and can continue to support thier families. Great news!
@get2sammyb Love the idea! It would be great if they do this! I seemed to be one of the only ones that loved Motorstorm Apocalypse! I would love to see something else in this series come into play!
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