Evolution Studios closed by Sony

[FoRiZon]

Slight drifting topic. But must be said.

This is it, PD. Evo has closed down and those employees (presume they didnt make their own indie studio) arent going anywhere, especially those graphic and sound part. It'll may be easier to transfer them into PD and get work on it since both are on the same parent company.

Im very sure future GT will be very bright if it happens. Graphics, effects, sounds, car lists, and so on.

 

[UkHardcore23]

But DC would have netted a nice amount of revenue, no? Sure GT5 (and GT6 to a lesser extent) has massive sales but then DC had plenty of DLC which players would want so it isn't like they just couldn't make money.

You would of thought so but clearly not enough to keep them on.

 

[R5]

You would of thought so but clearly not enough to keep them on.

Or, just a theory, they made enough money to survive but not enough to please Sony who are currently struggling financially.

 

[MCFerocious]

Just extremely disappointing.

 

[turk1993]

Is there any chance that Driveclub gets a PC release.

 

[R5]

Is there any chance that Driveclub gets a PC release.

About as much chance as GT Sport getting a PC release I guess.

 

[TokoTurismo]

Just read the article, and I have to say it's very depressing. It hurts me bad because EVO was so communicative with its fans and did everything it could to fix DC after the awful launch it had back in 2014. I bow my hat down to this awesome developer that so much 'determination' (Undertale reference), and hope the remaining employees find new jobs out there but sadly it may not be easy.

 

[nick98]

'determination' (Undertale reference)

The fact that some EVO employees may go to Playground Games to develop Forza Horizon 3 fills you with determination.

 

[Scuderia Paul]

The guys and girls are looking to setup shop themselves which is great. The more of that team which sticks together the better.

​

 

[TokoTurismo]

The fact that some EVO employees may go to Playground Games to develop Forza Horizon 3 fills you with determination.

100% this! :tup: I really do hope PG hires them because don't want any of them becoming homeless.

Stupid 🤬 Sony...

 

[GTFan24]

The guys and girls are looking to setup shop themselves which is great. The more of that team which sticks together the better.

​

I think that was posted a while ago, but that still puts a smile on my face

 

[nick98]

100% this! :tup: I really do hope PG hires them because don't want any of them becoming homeless.

I already know that Horizon 3 will be a stellar game considering just how awesome Horizon 1 and 2 were, but if some of the Evolution staff gets a place in PG... Let's just say we won't need another racing game in a very long time.

 

[TokoTurismo]

I already know that Horizon 3 will be a stellar game considering just how awesome Horizon 1 and 2 were, but if some of the Evolution staff gets a place in PG... Let's just say we won't need another racing game in a very long time.

Too true.

 

[GranTurismo guy]

I don't understand. Driveclub is doing really well. It's like Apple closing down a year after releasing the iPhone.

What?

 

[sebmugi]

Rushy want to save the studio with other means than those of Sony said it was too early to announce the plans but that a big announcement would be made at E3 ^^

 

[Pearl Jam]

Sad news but I'd rather eat my own testicles than own a X-Box

 

[doblocruiser]

100% this! :tup: I really do hope PG hires them because don't want any of them becoming homeless.

Stupid 🤬 Sony...

I always hoped that Gavin Rayburn would get involved in another touringcar racer

 

[GranTurismo guy]

Sad news but I'd rather eat my own testicles than own a X-Box

If you bought one and played Forza I promise you wouldn't even miss your testicles

 

[RACECAR]

As an Xbox fan, I would honestly have to say it is bad that Evolution has been shut down by Sony. In all honesty, it was a bad decision. I hope that T10, or more precisely Playground games (as they are UK based), will pick them up. Hopefully before Codemasters grabs them.

Codemasters have more than enough talent, which they already waste in a lot of cases (seriously, Grid Autosport was just poor. And F1 2015 wasn't a bed of roses either in some cases). Playground however could really utilize the talent from Evolution, and it could really help them add some new interesting twists into Forza Horizon.

So you're just going to ignore all the massive praise of Dirt Rally?

 

[Robin]

PD has an office in LA if I'm not mistaken.

Oh I didn't know that, in that case it's better than the rainy UK!

I wonder if first party studio's names are owned by Sony... because they could literally relaunch as an independent Evolution Studios.

 

[glassjaw]

Damn, this stings. Last time I was this angry at Sony, they closed my other favorite racing studio.

There's no good side to this, there's no silver lining. This team, which has long been one of the most technically capable at Sony and was incredibly productive last gen, admittedly launched with an unfinished product. They immediately turned the ship around and saved Driveclub, transforming it into what is in my opinion one of the best racing games of the last ten years. It sold well, they restored trust in the fanbase, and a year-and-a-half later with continued DLC support, I think we were all looking forward to a long life for Driveclub.

With all this in mind, I have no idea what Sony is thinking. This may be an unpopular opinion — and I'm not wishing anyone else lose their jobs — but if you want to trim the fat, how about starting with the team that sunk $60 million into a game developed over six years that was a critical flop and performed okay at best on shelves, purely because of the franchise's clout? How about the team that continually makes passion projects with little commercial viability? How about the team that's still developing The Last Guardian, a project so mismanaged the creator fled?

If you look at this practically, it doesn't make sense. I loved Studio Liverpool and Wipeout, but at least there you could make the argument that Liverpool was really a one trick pony, and was MIA for years at a time between Wipeout releases. Evos was much more productive and consistent.

The racing genre would be nonexistent on PS4 without Driveclub. We'd still just be waiting for GT Sport. And every time a team like Liverpool or Evos closes, it's crushing because there aren't many great racing studios left anymore.

 

[turk1993]

About as much chance as GT Sport getting a PC release I guess.

Who owns the IP ? Sony or Evolution

 

[R5]

Who owns the IP ? Sony or Evolution

No doubt Sony does, seeing as Evo was owned by them.

 

[Samus]

Best result for gamers is if they returned as a multi-platform dev with publisher backing. The more of those the better IMO.

 

[Ialyrn]

So you're just going to ignore all the massive praise of Dirt Rally?

I could understand your post, if I had actually said that Dirt rally was bad; but I did not say anything of the like. I said that Autosport was poor, and that F1 2015 wasn't a bed of roses either. I didn't mention Dirt Rally because there was no need for me to do so, as I was pointing out games/franchises where Codemasters have wasted the talent that they have. I didn't think it needed mentioning where they have actually done well, since we all already know that Dirt Rally is good. Hell, I bought it the second they announced it on Twitter; as I was ready for a decent rally game. For me Dirt Rally brings back all the memories and fun I had with the Colin Mcrae series of rally games, especially the second iteration which still remains my favorite.

 

[torque99]

So Jamie says 'Playstation' are taking over the game, Who at Playstation can release new tracks/Cars/DC2? Doesn't it need a studio ? Now Rushy saying they are sticking together and will release more news at E3, ??? I don't know still confused. I will still play DC and have brought the Bikes MV and Car packs today anyhow but I am also losing interest in waiting for GT Sport to release some details or dates!! (c'mon Sony)!!

I won't be going to Xbox as well, I still have a 360 I use for games occasionally, I tried the XBOne but it wasn't for me (I had lots of problems with it on release) so I will stick with the PS4 and DriveClub, NFS, Crew, maybe F1, SLR, WRC5 until GT Sport or a new announcement comes..

p.s On the Positive I didn't know DriveClub had so many 'silent supporters' on here who I don't normally see post coming out and posting which is really nice

 

[RACECAR]

I could understand your post, if I had actually said that Dirt rally was bad; but I did not say anything of the like. I said that Autosport was poor, and that F1 2015 wasn't a bed of roses either. I didn't mention Dirt Rally because there was no need for me to do so, as I was pointing out games/franchises where Codemasters have wasted the talent that they have. I didn't think it needed mentioning where they have actually done well, since we all already know that Dirt Rally is good. Hell, I bought it the second they announced it on Twitter; as I was ready for a decent rally game. For me Dirt Rally brings back all the memories and fun I had with the Colin Mcrae series of rally games, especially the second iteration which still remains my favorite.

I bought it up because you seem to imply that based on past games, Codemasters will waste talent when Dirt Rally is a good example that they actually haven't.

 

[ForceMotion]

Very sad to hear, they delivered so many quality work and the hardcore mode really stepped up the game. One really bad decision by Sony.. I hope we can see all the quality Evolution delivered just in another game with their employees, cause the graphics and sounds still beat many race games today.

 

[Jawehawk]

I don't understand. Driveclub is doing really well. It's like Apple closing down a year after releasing the iPhone.

What?

Care to share some sales figures along with that statement? What are you basing it on?

According to IGN, the game has sold more than 2 million units, which isn't bad in itself. However, the quick price reduction of the game, combined with the heavy pricetag of licensing exotic super cars, could very well mean that the game was struggling to turn a decent profit. I can't and won't say anything for sure, but I assume that the company was shut down for a reason, and not just because some big shot decided to shut Évo down on a whimp.

 

[AudiMan2011]

Care to share some sales figures along with that statement? What are you basing it on?

Last time I heard DC sold over 2 million copies back in July last year.
https://www.gtplanet.net/forum/threads/driveclub.274584/page-149#post-10884473