Silver lining

UK game developer, Blitz Games Studios has stopped trading today. Best known for the Dizzy titles, their  work on Epic Mickey 2, Reservoir Dogs (under its Volatile Games brand) and connection with IndieCity, Blitz Games Studios has been around for 23 years. Yet another sad story of a closing studio – yet the outpouring of support has been incredible.

In a statement made on the Blitz Game Studios website, they explain that frustrations with clients, the global economic crisis and bad luck have created a confluence of events that has made it impossible to keep the studio open:

We have done all that we can to make Blitz a success, and we have come frustratingly close in recent months. Major clients have felt unable to commit to investment in significant projects, others have changed strategy whilst appearing committed, and others have been slow to commit at all – all of these things have continued to hurt our finances. We have also sustained the business for some time with our personal savings but even those reserves have now been exhausted.

According to that statement, two of the developer’s current projects are financially self-sustaining. As such, Blitz management will be forming a new company to service those clients and keep 50 more people in jobs. Oxford-based developer Rebellion (best known for Sniper Elite and Aliens vs Predator) is doing its best to employ as many of the remaining 125 employees who are losing out in this closure.

IndieCity, and indie game download portal, commented on the closure of their parent company with pure honesty:

What does this mean for IndieCity? In all honesty we simply don’t know. With IndieCity belonging to Blitz Games, it will now be up for grabs, and we can think of a few likely purchasers. But nothing is certain at the moment, so we’ll have to sit tight and see what happens.

Despite this sad news, there has been an incredible upside. Mike Bithell, developer of Thomas Was Alone, got his start at Blitz and launched a rallying call with these tweets:

 

 

Over the course of the day, he managed to retweet tons of tweets of support and paid employment for UK developers. I stopped counting after I got to 50 companies and dev houses reaching out with vacancies and employment opportunities for those who Blitz is unable to retain. It was actually really beautiful to see – just check out Mike Bithell’s twitter feed to see how wonderful the gaming development community can be. We often talk about publishers and development studios as if they were these big, evil corporations. The reality is, they are still run by people, and can do incredible things. Very proud of the heart and soul on display!

Last Updated: September 13, 2013

1.1
was reviewed on PC

10 Comments

  1. Admiral Chief of Rivia

    September 13, 2013 at 12:04

    Mike Bithell is a genius and a SIR

    With the brilliance that is Thomas Was Alone, and this gentlemanly act, I salute thee sir!

    Reply

    • Kromas

      September 13, 2013 at 12:13

      Could not have said it better myself.

      Reply

  2. Admiral Chief of Rivia

    September 13, 2013 at 12:07

    If you have not played TWA yet, then get it! You are in for a bloody epic treat!

    Reply

    • Sir Rants-a-Lot Llew

      September 13, 2013 at 12:12

      Tried the demo. Still wana get the full game. Such an amazing piece of art. To me on the same level as games such as Limbo

      Reply

      • Her Highness the Hipster

        September 13, 2013 at 12:22

        it is pure brilliance. possibly the best game i’ve played this year… and I played The Last of Us.

        Reply

        • Admiral Chief of Rivia

          September 13, 2013 at 12:22

          I played XCOM and Tomb Raider, so its difficult for me to choose

          FTL also up there!

          Reply

        • Sir Rants-a-Lot Llew

          September 13, 2013 at 12:55

          Now that’s saying a lot!

          Reply

  3. Sir Rants-a-Lot Llew

    September 13, 2013 at 12:10

    What a champ!

    Reply

    • Admiral Chief of Rivia

      September 13, 2013 at 12:15

      Coming back from the living dead?

      Reply

      • Sir Rants-a-Lot Llew

        September 13, 2013 at 12:17

        Yeah slowly but surely I will crawl my way back up to regular

        Reply

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Check Also

Sony reportedly removing PS3 patches in some regions ahead of store closure

It’s the end of an era later this year, when Sony sunsets its PlayStation 3, PSP, and PS V…