GameSpot may receive revenue from affiliate and advertising partnerships for sharing this content and from purchases through links.

Crytek metabolizes Free Radical

PC first-person-shooter developer acquires the remnants of studio behind TimeSplitters and Haze, redubs it Crytek UK.

126 Comments

The fate of the studio behind Haze is finally clearing up. German developer Crytek announced today that it has acquired all remaining assets and business of Free Radical Design, which was placed into administration in December after sweeping layoffs. At the time, it had reportedly been working on Star Wars: Battlefront III, now rumored to be at Rebellion.

Consider this monkey shocked.
Consider this monkey shocked.

"The combination of this team, the Crytek network, and our CryEngine technology will be a foundation for outstanding gaming experiences and a magnet for the best talent in the UK," said Crytek managing director Avni Yerli in a statement. Crytek has said that it will integrate Free Radical into its own network (which includes studios in Ukraine, Hungary, Bulgaria, and South Korea), turning the outfit into Crytek UK.

In addition to Haze, UK-based Free Radical is best known for its work on the cult-favored franchise TimeSplitters. The studio had been prepping the fourth installment of the first-person shooter series for the Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, and Wii before its collapse. Crytek is also an FPS specialist, and its two most famous games--Crysis and Far Cry--have been solely for the PC. (After acquiring the Far Cry license, Ubisoft brought the series to the 360, PS3, and Wii.)

Last April, though, Crytek director and founder Cevat Yerli declared that the Electronic Arts-allied developer would develop future projects for multiple platforms. The company has already shown behind-closed-doors demonstrations of its CryEngine2 running on both the 360 and PS3.

Got a news tip or want to contact us directly? Email news@gamespot.com

Join the conversation
There are 126 comments about this story
126 Comments  RefreshSorted By 
GameSpot has a zero tolerance policy when it comes to toxic conduct in comments. Any abusive, racist, sexist, threatening, bullying, vulgar, and otherwise objectionable behavior will result in moderation and/or account termination. Please keep your discussion civil.

Avatar image for brendanhunt1
brendanhunt1

2333

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 0

splendid!

Upvote • 
Avatar image for VXLbeast
VXLbeast

1840

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 4

User Lists: 0

Good luck to them!

Upvote • 
Avatar image for JimmeyBurrows
JimmeyBurrows

3671

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 0

Timesplitters on CryEngine sounds beastly :) little put off by them making it for ps3/360 and the wii... if it can run on the wii, it's not gonna make good use of the ps3/360... which although sucking, will hopefully mean good framerates.

Upvote • 
Avatar image for Odesien
Odesien

181

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 1

User Lists: 0

i want my timesplitters!!!!!!!!!!

Upvote • 
Avatar image for Zapp3d
Zapp3d

244

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 4

User Lists: 0

I am so glad there is going to be a timesplitters 4 i still play the third one and love i just really hope they keep it fun and kinda cartoonish graphic like the others...and dont chage the gameplay, its great like it is!

Upvote • 
Avatar image for -Dark_Palladin-
-Dark_Palladin-

2222

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 51

User Lists: 0

What's a matter now? Not a taste for old-school colorful graphics? If you want to see the series ruined by black and white graphics, be my guest. And btw, this is coming from a fan of Half-Life 2, Oblivion, Doom 3, and FarCry.

Upvote • 
Avatar image for Killingspree303
Killingspree303

799

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 6

User Lists: 0

@-Dark_palladin- You're totally lost! I'm just laughing at your post right now. I agree with lucid1314 by the way. xD

Upvote • 
Avatar image for Lucid1314
Lucid1314

332

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 5

User Lists: 0

Dark Palladin... are you saying Crysis and FarCry were developed on the Unreal engine...? because they weren't... they're on their own engines. Far Cry runs on the CryEngine while Crysis runs on the Cry Engine 2... and honestly... I think CryTek won't screw it up at all... TimeSplitters can have very amazing graphics and still be quirky and funny like the originals... my only real concern is that I hope they will go back and play the games, improve upon them and make TimeSplitters 4 really good. As for Mapmaker... TS mapmaker was rather weak in the kind of things I wanted to do but it was good for making a basic map... I just wanted to make maps like the single player ones. Crysis had a good mapmaker if I'm not mistaken (I never used FarCry's) and seeing how their map maker was good I think TS4's will be just as good if they have it, which I'm sure they will.

Upvote • 
Avatar image for -Dark_Palladin-
-Dark_Palladin-

2222

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 51

User Lists: 0

Damn, this does not look good at all. I am glad that Timesplitters is being revived. I'm a childhood fan and although it obivously isn't the best series in the entire world, its better than what most consoles have. I'm hyped, but I fear that it is going to be ruined, just like Turok and Space Invaders. Having the TS series taken over by a different company is bad enough, but using the new generation's graphics engine is even worse. I for one, absolulty hate the Unreal Engine and I will never understand what other people like about it. The Unreal Engine makes games look extremly washed out to try to make them look more realistic, but I think its absoulutly boring. Watching a black-and-white movie has more color than all Unreal powered games combined. Crysis and Far Cry were awesome game, but they looked really washed out because of the graphics engine. Crytek was trying to make them look good and realistic, which is not what made Timesplitter so poplular. Timesplitters was goofy, had goofy guns, had goofy monkeys, robots, and a sense of humor. And considering Crytek has a tendency to add more realisim, I fear the worst. There will probably be only boring SMGs and soviet weapons instead of bricks. There will probably be only a few monekys and no robofishes or humor. The game will probably be like Team Arena 2. Cartoonish, strafe jumping, and just boring. There will probably not even be a mapmaker. To sum all this up, I'm nerveous. But I'm keeping my faith in Crytek, only because I know Far Cry was a good game.

Upvote • 
Avatar image for Outlaw-X13
Outlaw-X13

1192

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 9

User Lists: 0

I'm really happy now! Time-Splitters is my favorite game series, I almost cried when I heard Free-Radical got shut down. But then I found this bit of news and now a part of me and my youth just got resurrected! Just think.. it's Free-Radical.. but with a bigger budget.. (And I'm sure they will keep it the same style game but with incredible physics and graphics and whatnot!) I'm really happy I read this, really! WOO!

Upvote • 
Avatar image for evil_monkey248
evil_monkey248

34

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 3

User Lists: 0

CSP2009, Crytek makes realistic games, because of realistic engines (mostly) so you can expect that TS4 will still use the engine they designed for the game. Still, imagine a world where TS4 used Cryengine2 *drools* :D

Upvote • 
Avatar image for thekillerxbox36
thekillerxbox36

25

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 3

User Lists: 0

I hope Timesplitters 4 is released later in the future. With the new company of Crytek, this should be interesting for new developments for the FPS that Free Radical did. And since Crysis was amazing, Timesplitters 4 should have the same style of shooting. Let's hope they do it right.

Upvote • 
Avatar image for CSP2009
CSP2009

55

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 17

User Lists: 0

I hope that they don't lose the element behind timesplitters that everyone loved if they do then anygame from then on I will boycott because Crytek make good realistic games. I am fed up of realistic games I want a game that is fun with cool little perks which is why I guess people liked the timesplitters series

Upvote • 
Avatar image for pop_can
pop_can

79

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 5

User Lists: 0

huh, Crysis and the origional Far Cry were amazing games. thankfully a good company like Crytek got FR and not a crappy company. Crysis was awsome, Timesplitters is awsome, so good things seem ahead. Hopefully Timesplitters 4 will come out eventually, Crytek would be retarted to abandon one of the most loved franchises in video game history.

Upvote • 
Avatar image for tonyhawksP8
tonyhawksP8

2479

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 19

User Lists: 0

Free Radical killed their own company.

Upvote • 
Avatar image for gamescottsman
gamescottsman

306

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 1

User Lists: 0

This sounds like a great setup - bring on the goods! :D

Upvote • 
Avatar image for coureurke
coureurke

25

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 2

User Lists: 0

Time Splitter has always been one of my favorite games soo yeah nice :p

Upvote • 
Avatar image for vengeance00
vengeance00

293

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 8

User Lists: 0

don't forget nerdemeror they also did perfect dark (1) before they left to form FR.

Upvote • 
Avatar image for smoshgod
smoshgod

25

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 0

If they bring back timesplitters then i will be so happy. That series is the best no matter what you compare it to!!!!!

Upvote • 
Avatar image for NerdEmperor
NerdEmperor

965

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 0

Funkyhamster, don't forget Goldeneye (when they were at Rare) and Second Sight(really underrated).

Upvote • 
Avatar image for andalore
andalore

2644

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 3

User Lists: 0

YEAH!! Timesplitters may still come out! and SWBF3 may be returned to Free Rad's loving care :D:D:D

Upvote • 
Avatar image for vengeance00
vengeance00

293

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 8

User Lists: 0

does this mean their keeping the staff of FR or have they all left, because TS4 may be aweful if it isn't created by the original creators. look at Rare they ruined perfect dark after the FR members left to form their own company.

Upvote • 
Avatar image for alixkid
alixkid

282

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 1

User Lists: 0

Glad to see someone Grabbed this studio before they went into history.

Upvote • 
Avatar image for Funkyhamster
Funkyhamster

17366

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 1

User Lists: 0

Sick... I'm glad that the studio wasn't just left to die. Oh, and can we remember Free Radical as the studio behind Timesplitters, not as the studio behind Haze?

Upvote • 
Avatar image for jsduncan7
jsduncan7

25

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 10

User Lists: 0

Why did FR even make HAZE? They should've make TS4 first, for all platforms, and maybe they wouldn't have went under (but the mixture of FR and crytek does sound awesome.)

Upvote • 
Avatar image for allotheabove123
allotheabove123

425

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 8

User Lists: 0

timesplitters future perfect didnt leave much of a cliffhanger at the end

Upvote • 
Avatar image for mastiffchild
mastiffchild

301

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 7

User Lists: 0

TS2 is the beans in my book and still as much fun as I've had in MP shooters(not that it would shine now but that feeling on updated tech for TS4 would still be great)looking back at it. I feel they were pretty far into development as well which possibly had a bit to do with the Crytec purchase as another existing franchise would help ease them into the console game-and a franchise that would score big kudos with the fanbase if done well-which with the talent at both FRD and Crytec should be possible. Good news, no?

Upvote • 
Avatar image for FurtherIntel
FurtherIntel

112

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 6

User Lists: 0

Awesome news! But, I guess they ditched the Wii or something. :(

Upvote • 
Avatar image for murano28
murano28

501

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 39

User Lists: 0

I played the timesplitter future perfect it was a great and fun shooter, The new one for ps3 would be cool.

Upvote • 
Avatar image for murano28
murano28

501

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 39

User Lists: 0

I hope to see the new timesplitters. The second one was very good. Don't wanna see haze....

Upvote • 
Avatar image for kstegall2
kstegall2

51

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 1

User Lists: 0

I really hope the new management continues with the development & publishing of TimeSplitters 4. I love that series & it'd be a crime not to be able to release the continuation of the series that work's already been started on.

Upvote • 
Avatar image for Takeno456
Takeno456

222

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 0

Yes timesplitters 4!!!!!

Upvote • 
Avatar image for Jedilink109
Jedilink109

1609

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 3

User Lists: 0

I just hope they make a Timesplitters 4. Timesplitters 2 was awesome. :D

Upvote • 
Avatar image for ChickenHounk911
ChickenHounk911

685

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 2

User Lists: 0

I say more of the timesplitters, less of the Haze...

Upvote • 
Avatar image for Gamingcucumber
Gamingcucumber

5612

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 12

User Lists: 0

This is absolutely amazing news! The are in perfect care. I would LOVE to see what FRD and Crytek can accomplish. And above all else I'm glad that TimeSplitters lives on, for it is one of the VERY few innovative and unique FPS games out there in a croweded market that just keeps getting more and more stale. Thumbs up to Crytek and Free Radical!

Upvote • 
Avatar image for ODST-Spartan_X1
ODST-Spartan_X1

25

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 1

User Lists: 0

They should release Crysis for platforms I think it would do well not that this is off subject or anything just saying

Upvote • 
Avatar image for gameweasl
gameweasl

153

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 0

TS4 would be the best FPS ever for XBOX Live!!! Please release this!!!

Upvote • 
Avatar image for lendrahcir
lendrahcir

166

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 3

User Lists: 0

All I want is to play TS4, I don't care on what platform. Those games were/are fantastic and it would be brilliant to have a new one.

Upvote • 
Avatar image for BigBad95
BigBad95

76

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 0

they should make crysis and farcry vs timesplitters that would kick ass

Upvote • 
Avatar image for TehUndeadHorror
TehUndeadHorror

759

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 28

User Lists: 1

Cool! That's definitely nice to hear in a time of economical crisis! (Wow I just realised that I could have almost made that into a bad pun...)

Upvote • 
Avatar image for monty_4256
monty_4256

8577

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 0

the dunia and the cryengine 2 are basically the same the cryengine 2 is owned by EA and they had to rename it and change it slightly to make it the dunia engine for ubisoft the cry engine 2 is also based off the ce1

Upvote • 
Avatar image for ratix2
ratix2

2241

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 3

User Lists: 0

fc2 used dunia not ce2. dunia was based on ce1 though it only has 1-5% ce1 code left over.

Upvote • 
Avatar image for GeigerdolylWodd
GeigerdolylWodd

6275

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 4

User Lists: 0

Was CryEngine2 included in Far Cry 2 for the xbox 360/PC/ps3?

Upvote • 
Avatar image for St_muscat
St_muscat

4315

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 7

User Lists: 0

This is great news, thanks Crytek you guys are awesome! Can't wait for TS4.

Upvote • 
Avatar image for IRTehHardMode
IRTehHardMode

54

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 23

User Lists: 0

Cant wait for TS4. One of the most underrated series of games ever. Imo.

Upvote • 
Avatar image for raghraghragh
raghraghragh

6613

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: -1

User Lists: 0

This is brilliant news, as long as too many people don't lose their jobs. Can't wait for TS4 though.

Upvote • 
Avatar image for FirstDiscovery
FirstDiscovery

5508

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 0

Great news, hopefully they can get out a Timesplitters, its something that they are best at, hopefully itll turn out good and sell well too

Upvote • 
Avatar image for bennae66
bennae66

951

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 0

good.

Upvote • 
Avatar image for aaronobst
aaronobst

408

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 8

User Lists: 0

now if only Crytek were involved in the making of Haze... it would have been something spectacular

Upvote • 
Avatar image for HeavenIceDay
HeavenIceDay

798

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 0

Awesome! A CryEngine 2 Timesplitters would be simply awesome!

Upvote •