Kotaku Writes:
Earlier we posted rumors that Factor 5 laid off half its staff. Now comes word the whole studio just closed. I guess everyone's answer to the economy is just to give up.
This one still gets the rumor tag because there's no name on the source. But says IGN's Matt Casamassina over on their boards (subscription required):
(Casamassina) [I w]as hoping the rumors weren't true. Contacted Julian over at F5 to shed some light, but he didn't get back to me. Got an e-mail from an inside source tonight:
"Hi Matt,
How have you been? Haven't seen you guys since E3. I hope that you're doing well!
[Redacted] wanted me to contact you with some late breaking news. We just learned from inside sources that developer Factor 5 has officially closed their doors as of today. That's some pretty big news considering that those guys have been around for quite a while. It's definitely a real shame! I hope that this information is helpful to you. Take care, and please say hi to Bozon for me."
And another one bites the dust. Since everyone's strategy is to fire their way back to full health, may I make a simple request? Please adjust the fiscal quarters ahead by one month. Like daylight savings time for Wall Street or something. That way, 500,000 people won't be getting fired right before Christmas, they can get pink slipped in January and not have their holidays ruined. At least give us that.
"The Norrköping-based (Sweden) indie games publisher Maximum Entertainment and Manchester-based (the UK) indie games developer Merge Games, today announced with great happiness and excitement that their fantasy action/adventure/RPG “Smalland: Survive the Wilds“, is now available on the Meta Quest platform." - Jonas Ek, TGG.
"The most important games event of Latin America, gamescom latam, has unveiled the finalists for its flagship award ceremony, the gamescom latam BIG Festival, which celebrates the best in the global market of games." - Gamescom.
"The retro RPG "Touhou Kourinden ~ Mythos of Phantasmagoria" is now available for PC" - Jonas Ek TGG.
I thought Sony owned Factor 5.Thats a shame.Even though I hated Lair,I enjoyed Rogue Squadron on the Gamecube
This is not a good week, look Haze and Lair were weak yes. I was still looking forward for them to make future titles that can redeem themselves. I was hoping for that Kid Icarus for sure, man. It's interesting how game sales are at the highest point ever even in the recession, and this is sadly happening.
They made Lair right? If so, no wonder they closed, that was a TERRIBLE game. I tried the demo, it was so boring, bland and retarded I couldn't stand it. But I feel bad for these guys, that's truly terrible.
looking at their back catalog of games it is really surprising they came this far
they don't seem to have ever developed anything really special
Another company taken out by high development cost and low sales of PS3 games..