Free Radicals is reforming to create a brand new installment in the TimeSplitters series for the first time in 16 years.
As is the case with any game that hasn’t experienced a remaster or a sequel for more than ten years, TimeSplitters fans have been asking for as much for a while. The problem is, the studio responsible for the three-game series doesn’t technically exist anymore. Well, it didn’t officially until today.
Publisher Deep Silver has revealed Free Radicals, the studio responsible for all three TimeSplitters games during the early 2000s, is back. Not only is it back, but at this time it sounds like the studio’s sole purpose is to create the first new TimeSplitters game since 2005. “To finally be able to confirm that the studio has been formed and that we have a plan for the next TimeSplitters game is incredible,” said Steve Ellis.
Steve Ellis is one of the original founders of Free Radical and will act as the development director for the new studio. Fellow founder David Doak is also on board, as are a number of unnamed “key original members” who worked on the first three TimeSplitters games. The only bit of bad news to come out of all this is despite the announcement, TimeSplitters fans still have a wait on their hands until the new game arrives.
The studio in which the game has been created hasn’t even been prepared yet, meaning development on TimeSplitters 4 is yet to begin, and probably won’t get underway for a while. Well, it might not be a sequel, of course. The official word is that the TimeSplitters IP will be brought “back to life”. That could mean remasters, a sequel, or best of all, both.
Free Radicals was formed in 1999 after its four founders left Rare. TimeSplitters followed as a launch game on PS2 the following year and was returned via TimeSplitters 2 and then TimeSplitters: Future Perfect in 2005. There have been rumors TimeSplitters would return for almost two years. While some of those rumors were probably unfounded, the project was almost definitely underway earlier this year when Deep Silver hinted the series might make a comeback.
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