The Time Is Right For Timesplitters
Timesplitters: TimeSplitters is a series of first-person shooter video games developed by Free Radical Design. The games are often compared to Rare’s shooters GoldenEye 007 and Perfect Dark since Free Radical Design was founded by a group of ex-Rare employees who developed these games. As the title suggests, each game features a time-traveling element that enables players to battle in a temporal war in a diverse number of locations set over the span of several centuries.
The look of the series is substantially more stylized than most modern first-person shooters, with character models and expressions emphasizing more cartoon-like qualities and comic book-inspired design. Many of the characters represent parodies of established pop culture stereotypes (such as the aristocratic English explorer or the suave secret agent). Many aspects of the series also focus on often surreal and self-deprecating humor. The main antagonist in each of the games are the TimeSplitters, a race of aliens who wreak havoc on humanity throughout time as well as their supposed creator Jacob Crow.
Timesplitters 2
This is not a drill. THQ Nordic has announced that the TimeSplitters franchise is officially making a comeback.
Last year THQ Nordic acquired the rights to the TimeSplitters IP, but we’ve been in the dark as to what the company planned to do with it. Until now.
In a recent press release, THQ Nordic revealed that the company has hired Steve Ellis, one of the original series’ creators, “to help plot the future course for this franchise”. In other words, TimeSplitters is definitely making a comeback.
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While there’s been talk of a TimeSplitters 4 fan project for a while (TimeSplitters Rewind), there’s been little in the way of solid details regarding an official new addition to the series. We were starting to lose hope.
THQ Nordic hasn’t revealed if the future of the franchise will involve rebooting the series, continuing on from Future Perfect, or remaking the original three games but, either way, for the sake of authenticity it’s encouraging to see a co-creator on board.
Timesplitters Rewind
THQ Nordic is as busy as ever. The publisher formerly known as Nordic Games reported solid growth for the first quarter of its fiscal 2020. Sales were up 36%, and it hits 5 cents earnings per share. And as usual, the company is making a lot of news about its plans for the future. That includes what it plans to do with Saints Row and TimeSplitters.
Lars Wingefors, THQ Nordic’s chief executive officer, has made a number of new acquisitions. Darksiders III developer Gunfire Games is now under THQ Nordic ownership. And THQ Nordic has also bought MotoGP 19 studio Milestone. Gunfire and Milestone join a lengthy list of THQ Nordic acquisitions that include developers like JoWood, HandyGames, and Deep Silver. The publisher has also purchased the rights to a huge number of intellectual properties including Kingdoms of Amalur: Reckoning, Alone in the Dark, and TimeSplitters.
Timesplitters Future Perfect
Originally released in 2000, TimeSplitters is a first-person action shooter that sees you traveling through time in a story mode spanning several centuries in an effort to stop an alien race of TimeSplitters from wreaking havoc on humanity, and time itself.
The series comprises three titles: TimeSplitters, TimeSplitters 2 and TimeSplitters: Future Perfect. In each game you time-travel to a particular point in time, and in each time period you either take on the role of (or team up with) a character from that time period, many of whom are stereotypes of pop culture references, such as the sleazy 70s secret agent or the veteran British adventurer.
On top of the main campaign, each game offers a map-maker, multiplayer arcade and challenge mode.
TimeSplitters was originally created by Free Radical Design, which later became Crytek UK. Speaking to TechRadar in 2012, TimeSplitters developer Steve Ellis revealed that there was no chance we would be seeing TimeSplitters 4 on PS4 or Xbox One, as the series proved difficult to market in the climate of the modern game. Crytek eventually shut down in 2014 and the majority of staff were moved to Dambuster Studios, hammering the final nail in the coffin of a potential TimeSplitters 4 title – until now.
Timesplitters 4
Speaking of TimeSplitters and developer Deep Silver, THQ Nordic gave some updates on both.
TimeSplitters was a PlayStation 2 and GameCube-era shooter from developer Free Radical Design. Many of the key team members on the Goldeneye 007 and Perfect Dark games at Rare founded Free Radical, and TimeSplitters continued that gameplay legacy.
Now, THQ Nordic is bringing back some of that talent to help figure out where to take the franchise.
“Last year Deep Silver acquired the much-loved TimeSplitters IP,” Lars Wingefors said in a statement. “We’re delighted to announce that one of the series’ creators, Steve Ellis, has joined us to help plot the future course for this franchise.”
As for what’s next for Saints Row, THQ Nordic confirmed a sequel is coming.
“Volition is deep in development of a brand-new Saints Row game,” said Wingefors. “This is the first full entry in this much-loved series since Saints Row IV was released in 2013.”
Volition launched a standalone Saints Row expansion called Gat Out of Hell in 2015. And it then focused on the spinoff shooter Agents of Mayhem in 2017. Following weak sales for Agents of Mayhem, however, Volition laid off some of its staff.
Who owns the rights to TimeSplitters?
Crytek had previously owned the TimeSplitters rights, picking them up along with the Free Radical in 2008. Well, Crytek sold the studio to Koch Media in 2014, and now Koch Media (who are now owned by THQ Nordic) have nabbed the rights and will have a TimeSplitters game made under their Deep Silver label.
Will there be a TimeSplitters 4?
Koch Media has announced that THQ Nordic now owns the rights to the franchise, which also gives them permission to “create video games” under the TimeSplitters banner. That being said, the move towards a PS5 and new Xbox is gaining speed. The ninth generation of consoles may be the best place for Timesplitters 4.
What is TimeSplitters rewind?
Timesplitters 3
Mobile gaming studio Tenacious Entertainment, created by former ArenaNet developers, has raised $3.3 million.
The Bellevue, Washington-based studio was founded last year by CEO Roy Cronacher and other former ArenaNet developers. Their focus will be on creating a culture of creativity and collaboration, with an unnamed debut title slated for 2020.
“We started Tenacious to shake up how things are done on mobile,” said Cronacher, in a statement. “As lifelong gamers ourselves, we know that players deserve outstanding innovation and memorable experiences no matter what platform they’re on. That means taking concepts that are proven on PC and consoles to the next level, capturing what gives them mass-market appeal with a unique design made for satisfying bursts of enjoyment on phones and tablets.”
Timesplitters 2 Gamecube
If you like remakes, remasters and re-releases, it’s quite the time to be alive – and things are looking good for the remainder of 2019.
Aside from those instances of Nintendo just re-releasing Wii U titles on the Switch, or Naughty Dog polishing semi-recent PS3 classics like the Uncharted series or The Last of Us for “definitive experiences” on the PS4, the last 18 months have been great for nostalgia buffs eager to see their old favorites upgraded to the modern generation of consoles.
Three of last year’s releases – Shadow of the Colossus, Spyro Reignited Trilogy and the Xbox One release of Crash Bandicoot N. Sane Trilogy ended up being in my top five most-played games of 2018. Earlier this year, my laundry bill dramatically spiked in the days I spent reliving Resident Evil 2, during which time my smartwatch also registered half a dozen heart attacks.
The Bellevue, Washington-based studio was founded last year by CEO Roy Cronacher and other former ArenaNet developers. Their focus will be on creating a culture of creativity and collaboration, with an unnamed debut title slated for 2020.
“We started Tenacious to shake up how things are done on mobile,” said Cronacher, in a statement. “As lifelong gamers ourselves, we know that players deserve outstanding innovation and memorable experiences no matter what platform they’re on. That means taking concepts that are proven on PC and consoles to the next level, capturing what gives them mass-market appeal with a unique design made for satisfying bursts of enjoyment on phones and tablets.”
Cronacher previously worked on ArenaNet’s Guild Wars 2 as a game designer. Tenacious said it is committed to making globally accessible mobile games under free-to-play models that fuel player competition without relying on “pay-to-win” mechanics. The team’s debut title, a competitive arena combat game with exciting moment-to-moment gameplay and deep character investment, is in development now and expected to launch next year.
Tenacious is still growing and currently seeking talent for a number of open positions. The investors were mostly friends and family, as well as investors from outside the game industry. They were not disclosed.
Timesplitters Pc
THQ Nordic and one of the original creators of TimeSplitters are teaming up to work on a new entry in the fan-favorite series. THQ Nordic acquired the TimeSplitters IP a year ago, saying it had plans for the future of the series. However, nothing about those plans has come to light until now.
TimeSplitters was one of the most beloved console FPS series of its time. Developed by former Rare employees who went on to found Free Radical, the games followed in the footsteps of GoldenEye and Perfect Dark while taking full advantage of the next generation of consoles. Featuring better controls, more robust campaigns, and an all-new take on local multiplayer, TimeSplitters spawned a trilogy of acclaimed console shooters throughout the early 2000s before Free Radical moved on. Even after the developer was later saved from bankruptcy by Crytek, the TimeSplitters intellectual property was never utilized and has been kept dormant for almost 15 years. But that’s about to change, according to its new owner. Tenacious has eight full-time employees. Regarding the name, Conacher said, “We founded the company with the goal of creating games and experiences that others have been traditionally hesitant to approach, especially in mobile games.
More than a year later, we have found many reasons why that was and have worked to overcome those challenges. Tenacity has been inherent in all of us from forming the company, trying to do something different, and even down to making sure we choose the right word to represent us. We had to go through a lot of names until we found one that in hindsight seems a bit obvious. We chose Tenacious Entertainment because it’s something we embody and plan on continuing that same mindset while launching our first game and building its community.”
