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[Triggerhappytel]

Apparently Activison entered consultation in January to review the studio's options, but they've reached the decision to close it down, along with the usual noise about supporting staff, etc. The Blast Furnace began in 2011, formed by ex-Rockstar Leeds studio heads Gordon Hall and Mark Washbrook, and this closure will affect all 47 staff. They developed Pitfall! (iOS/Android), Wipeout (presumably based on the TV show?) and most famously, CoD's mobile entry, Strike Team. Good luck to all those affected; I don't usually enjoy endless runners but I actually quite enjoyed Pitfall! for what it was.

http://www.mcvuk.com/news/read/call...e-blast-furnace-will-close-this-month/0129975

Activision's Leeds-based mobile developer will close by the end of the month, the publisher has said.

The Blast Furnace's 47 staff face redundancy, although the company has told us that it is seeking new homes for some of the employees.

Activision revealed in January it was 'exploring options' for the studio and expressed a desire to keep the developer together - including a possible sale.

"Having explored a range of options, including a potential sale of the business, and consulted with the staff about the options, we have not been able to find a suitable alternative for the talented team in the timescales set by the consultation exercise and have agreed to close The Blast Furnace," an Activision spokesperson told MCV.

"Although we have reached the end of the main consultation exercise we shall continue to work with the leadership team to explore options for these highly skilled individuals within Activision and its related organisations.

"Additionally, we will be offering a number of tools and resources, including outplacement counselling services, to those who are impacted."

The studio is best known for creating last year's smartphone title Call of Duty: Strike Team, but it has also created mobile titles based on Pitfall and Wipeout. It was one of two UK studios Activision owns, the other being Leamington Spa-based FreeStyle Games.

"We would like to note that The Blast Furnace has been a great partner to Activision and we thank them for all of their efforts.

"The UK remains a key market for Activision. The company remains a leading video game employer in the country with its UK headquarters based in Stockley Park."

The Blast Furnace was set up in 2011 in Leeds featuring development veterans from Rockstar and Team 17 amongst others. It released its first game, Pitfall, in August 2012.

That makes Activision's sole UK studio FreeStyleGames, who previously worked on DJ Hero and are rumoured to be working on a new Guitar Hero.


Get me working on COD map packs if old.

 

[Takao]

This was their sole mobile studio right? There wasn't even a market for them to make CoD on iOS?

 

[Triggerhappytel]

This was their sole mobile studio right? There wasn't even a market for them to make CoD on iOS?

I think so, yeah. Presumably Strike Team didn't sell very well? It doesn't appear to be on Android so I guess it's an iOS exclusive.

 

[Neuromancer]

It's a shame they didn't do anything cooler with the Cod brand on mobile. A turn based strategy game like Ghost Recon: Shadow Wars could have been really good.

 

[SmokyDave]

It's a shame they didn't do anything cooler with the Cod brand on mobile. A turn based strategy game like Ghost Recon: Shadow Wars could have been really good.

.....ah, goddamnit. You reminded me that the Shadow Wars port was seemingly canned

 

[Tamanator]

Apparently Activison entered consultation in January to review the studio's options, but they've reached the decision to close it down, along with the usual noise about supporting staff, etc. The Blast Furnace began in 2011, formed by ex-Rockstar Leeds studio heads Gordon Hall and Mark Washbrook, and this closure will affect all 47 staff. They developed Pitfall! (iOS/Android), Wipeout (presumably based on the TV show?) and most famously, CoD's mobile entry, Strike Team. Good luck to all those affected; I don't usually enjoy endless runners but I actually quite enjoyed Pitfall! for what it was.

http://www.mcvuk.com/news/read/call...e-blast-furnace-will-close-this-month/0129975



That makes Activision's sole UK studio FreeStyleGames, who previously worked on DJ Hero and are rumoured to be working on a new Guitar Hero.


Get me working on COD map packs if old.

So mobile isn't an infinitely producing cash cow? Surprise

 

[Cameron122]

Aww I really liked the concept of Strike Team! Best of luck to these peeps

 

[SmokyDave]

So mobile isn't an infinitely producing cash cow? Surprise

I'm more surprised that you thought it was in the first place.

 

[FriedConsole]

That is sad that Activision can't beat Gameloft's blatant rip off Modern Combat albeit I did play one and it was surprisingly good. Did Activision not want to sink the cash cow by getting kids to go mobile and only pay $5 for a game?

Gameloft's NOVA is surprising a good Halo clone too. It was the best FPS on PSP.

 

[SwiftDeath]

It is interesting to see big publishers fail to make progress into the mobile market

I truly feel that it is a dangerous market due to its hyper-competitiveness and ease of entry

 

[Nirolak]

This was their sole mobile studio right? There wasn't even a market for them to make CoD on iOS?

Beachhead has been hiring up game developers with Unity experience so I think they intend to take over.

 

[airborn]

This was their sole mobile studio right? There wasn't even a market for them to make CoD on iOS?

Beachhead are still doing the Call of Duty second screen experience, but as far as actual development goes this was their sole mobile studio.

The Skylanders mobile games were developed by Vicarious Visions.

 

[Neuromancer]

.....ah, goddamnit. You reminded me that the Shadow Wars port was seemingly canned

I know. Apparently Ubisoft couldn't figure out how to convert it into a IAP model. =(