At the end of last year, Embracer Group closed Free Radical Designa studio reformed in 2019 to develop a new game TimeSplitters. A big blow for the players, but especially for the developers, one of them recently shared a video of gameplay of this canceled titlestating that “Embracer Group can go hide in a cave now”:
There was clearly some good, but also some more worrying. As recalled Eurogamera developer had already revealed that TimeSplitters Next was originally intended as a Fortnite clonea direction desired by the publisher, but clearly not by Free Radical Design. The interface of Battle Royale ofEpic Games is reproduced as is here, with a very similar menu and a boutique in-game. However, the project had evolved in a very different direction, TimeSplitters Next was to be a sort of TimeSplitters 2 in an alternative universewith original levels or taken from TimeSplitters: Future Perfect and a scenario What If…? reversing the roles of Corporal Hart and Sergeant Cortez. The video above shows some elements that could have appealed to nostalgic fans, including popular levels and weapons or even an ATH like GoldenEye 007cult title on which members of Free Radical Design.
TimeSplitters Next will never see the light of day, it’s a shame, the franchise will undoubtedly remain permanently in the closet. Before being refounded, the Free Radical Design original had become Crytek UK Then Dambuster Studioswho released Dead Island 2 last year, available from €29 on Amazon, Cdiscount And there Fnac.
| Clint008 Editor – Tester |