The highly anticipated reboot of TimeSplitters had an interesting and tumultuous journey before its ultimate demise. According to a former developer at Free Radical Design, the game initially started as a “clone” of Fortnite’s popular battle royale mode. It was intended to be a free-to-play game, featuring a battle royale mode along with classic TimeSplitters game modes such as deathmatch, team deathmatch, and capture the bag. However, even the development team themselves were not enthusiastic about this direction.
Earlier this year, the reboot took a major turn and shifted away from its battle royale aspirations. It transformed into a remake of TimeSplitters 2, albeit with some new and modified levels. These new levels included maps from both the original game and its sequel, Future Perfect. Additionally, the game introduced an alternate timeline story, following the journey of Corporal Hart instead of the original protagonist, Cortez. This change in vision inevitably led to a lack of marketing for the game.
One of the primary reasons for the lack of marketing was the extensive use of placeholder assets throughout the development process. The developer revealed that until the last year or so, the team lacked dedicated artists, resulting in the use of temporary assets. This significantly hindered the progress of the game and created the need for constant reworking of art assets. The first few areas that were initially developed had to be completely scrapped or redesigned, further delaying the game’s development.
Interestingly, the TimeSplitters reboot had no connection to TimeSplitters 4, a separate project that was ultimately canceled. The developer clarified that they had no access to the work done by Dambuster Studios on TimeSplitters 4. This meant that the reboot was an independent undertaking, starting from scratch to reimagine the beloved TimeSplitters franchise. However, this also meant that the reboot had to face its own unique challenges and hurdles.
The Demise of Free Radical Design
The unfortunate closure of Free Radical Design, which occurred just last week, played a significant role in the cancellation of the TimeSplitters reboot. As part of Embracer’s restructuring efforts, Free Radical Design fell victim to layoffs and studio closures. With the closure of the studio, the entire team behind the TimeSplitters reboot was laid off. Some team members were fortunate enough to secure positions at Dambuster Studios, but they were not assigned to work on the shooter.
In the face of the cancellation, the developer expressed their disappointment and sadness over the way things unfolded. They shared their fondness for the TimeSplitters franchise, having been involved with it since the beginning. The developer had high hopes of creating a memorable game that would live up to the legacy of the original TimeSplitters. Unfortunately, this vision was never realized, leaving both the development team and fans of the franchise feeling let down.
The TimeSplitters reboot underwent a rollercoaster of development challenges and changes. Starting as a Fortnite clone, the game transformed into a remake of TimeSplitters 2 before its unfortunate cancellation. The lack of marketing, reliance on placeholder assets, and the closure of Free Radical Design ultimately led to the demise of the project. It is a missed opportunity that has disappointed fans and left them wondering if the TimeSplitters franchise will ever see a revival.
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