Sony Shuts Down Driveclub Developer Evolution Studios - News
by William D'Angelo , posted on 22 March 2016 / 5,873 Views
Sony has shut down Driveclub developer Evolution Studios.
The studio, also known for developing MotorStorm and World Rally Championship, has seen recent troubles with Driveclub after many delays. Sony cut 55 jobs from the studio just one year ago.
Sony released a statement to GamesIndustry:
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.
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A life-long and avid gamer, William D'Angelo was first introduced to VGChartz in 2007. After years of supporting the site, he was brought on in 2010 as a junior analyst, working his way up to lead analyst in 2012. He has expanded his involvement in the gaming community by producing content on his own YouTube channel and Twitch channel dedicated to gaming Let's Plays and tutorials. You can contact the author at wdangelo@vgchartz.com or on Twitter @TrunksWD.
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I saw this coming from a long time the last Motorstorm flopped and while Driveclub did sell well people seem to forget that the game was delayed for an entire year which drove drove up development cost by a lot.
saddening, though DC was a huge disaster, so I can see why.
It's a real shame. On one hand I understand they weren't doing good business for them anymore but on the other hand I just wish Sony green lit one last game from them. A Motorstorm PS4 reboot based on the first two.
So disappointed in Sony for this crap. Keeping studios that add diversity is what adds value to your brand. This performed better than GT6, so I'm surprised polyphony didn't close down.
Sony boasted Driveclub sold 2 million units and now the studio is closed. Oh well, I'm guessing support will continue atleast until GT7 is a thing.
I'm sure that the talent will not go to waste. I did love lots of games made by them and I'm sad that they have to cease to exist as a developing group. I love Driveclub and just bought Bikes yesterday. Will buy the rest of the DLC available to support this people. I wish the best for them...
Driveclub so good tho. And I liked motorstom also. Don't understand this move.
Evolution never recovered from the horrid Driveclub launch and PS+ fiasco. Hope this guys create a new studio.
Even though Driveclub was fixed into an excellent racer through crazy awesome support, I guess the botched release and complications created by HOW it got there was just too much. While I was hoping they would get another chance, this does not suprise me in the least.
Hope everyone affected find new jobs quickly!
I'm shocked! DriveClub is still outselling the likes of Forza and they supported the game amazingly. Sony this is a bad move!
I hope the devs form a new studio and bring something like MotorStorm back to consoles.
You know it only "sold well" is because of bundles it had during the holidays, right? By the way Forza 6 is selling amazingly well and that is without massive bundling especially in Europe.
@darkenergy Where are you getting your data from?
Forza 6: 2016 158,949 -87.2% 1,397,436
DriveClub: 2016 54,249 -88.4% 1,928,400
Notice that DC is into its 3rd year before it dropped to 88% year on year sales. Forza 6, which so many people claim is a better game, has already dropped 87% in its 2nd year of year on year sales. DC only dropped 66% in its 2nd year.
So selling "amazingly well" seems a bit exaggerated unless it is actually backed up by numbers, IMO. If it is not being bundled that is not DC's fault, that is Microsoft's fault for not believe in its one 1st Party devs.
You know this is vgchartz, so guess where I am getting the data? Those numbers show that the gap is at least 500,000 units apart and Forza 6 is selling an average of 15,000 units weekly and has yet sold under 10,000 units. You should do the math yourself. Oh by the way if MS doesn't believe in Forza series they would've drop it a long time ago, we are now anticipating Horizon 3 :)
Also people claim that Forza 6 flop but vgchartz says otherwise.
@darkenergy Agreed the gap is 500K, but the the data shows that Forza 6's sales figures is dropping much faster than DCs. As I mentioned above it took DC to drop by 88% in its 3rd year. In its 2nd year its sales dropped 66%. While Forza's sales dropped 88% in its 2nd year, so I'd be very surprised if Forza can reach or even surpass DC's numbers. Even if the Studio will no longer be updating it. I'll revisit in a year's time to see if Forza 6 closed the gap in its 3rd year and surpassed DC. Time will tell :)
Brilliant, another English studio closed down by Sony. Once again, Japanese companies treating non Japanese assets/employees like shit. No too long after the close of Psygnosis too. Sony are pretty vile.
