Tue, Jan 25, 2011 | 09:32 GMT
Disney restructures into digital-only publisher
Variety’s reporting that Disney has restructured into a digital-only publisher, and will now eschew retail and packaging.
“As part of setting a strategic direction for future success in the digital media space, the Disney Interactive Media Group today began a restructuring process,” read a statement to the site.
It follows claims that 700 jobs had been lost at the company, with Epic Mickey developer Junction Point also seeing lay-offs.
Disney saw some large core releases in 2010, with Black Rock’s Split/Second, Epic Mickey and Propaganda Games’ Tron Evolution all shipping.
Propaganda has since closed.
The studio’s Pirates of the Caribbean: Armada of the Damned, canned late last year.
Despite Epic Mickey selling 1.5 million in the US, Split/Second and Evolution bombed in terms of sales.
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Posted in: Disney, Hot
Tags: black rock studios, epic mickey, Junction Point, propaganda games, split/second, tron evolution
19 comments
#1
Blerk
25/01/11, 9:35 am
Ouch! Where the hell does this leave all their teams?
#2
StolenGlory
25/01/11, 9:38 am
Just give me Mickey Mouse: Castle of Illusion in HD (XBLA/PSN) and we’re golden Disney
#3
Xzeth
25/01/11, 9:39 am
@Blerk Most likely out on the sidewalk, with so many others
#4
StolenGlory
25/01/11, 9:41 am
On a side note though, they had better not fucking touch Black Rock.
Words will be had otherwise.
#5
mojo
25/01/11, 9:44 am
well that sadly means no possible pure 2 for me then
castle of illusion would be ace.
#6
StolenGlory
25/01/11, 9:48 am
I still have Pure sat on my shelf sealed. Worth a play you reckon mojo?
#7
SplatteredHouse
25/01/11, 9:51 am
I would love to see some of the Disney games of the 8 and 16-bit era revitalised on HD download – Castle of Illusion without a doubt at the very top of that list!
#8
Captain Fruitloop
25/01/11, 10:11 am
With this, and Acti closing Bizarre Creations while telling the world the arse has fallen out of the racing game genre…..you can bet there’s a few squeaky bums right now at Black Rock.
Not good…
#9
mojo
25/01/11, 10:21 am
6: oh absolutely!!
Give it a go, if u like the first races, u will enjoy the whole game.
I bought it cheap back then and didnt have high hopes, but it was surprisingly good.
#10
StolenGlory
25/01/11, 10:22 am
@9
Cheers for the feedback! I’ll give it a go later
#11
Michael O’Connor
25/01/11, 10:22 am
Pure is a pretty stellar game. I would definitely recommend playing it.
This is sad news. =( Disney Interactive Studios made some pretty amazing games.
I always looked at them as something of an underappreciated prodigy amongst its more established but not as talented peers. When they shone, they really shone.
#12
Detale
25/01/11, 10:27 am
Hope the Black Rock gang are okay, loved Split/Second and was looking forward to seeing what they’d come up with next.
#13
StolenGlory
25/01/11, 10:41 am
@11
Ah, another vote for Pure
Will certainly be playing this ASAP then. How’d you feel about Split/Second Michael?
#14
Suikoden Fan
25/01/11, 10:46 am
THATS MASSIVELY DISSAPOINTING
#15
orakaa
25/01/11, 10:54 am
This is sad news : I REALLY enjoyed Split Second A LOT and was hoping for a “season 2″ -___-
#16
naffgeek
25/01/11, 10:57 am
Pure and Split/Second are great racers, racers that are actually fun, unfortunately they didn’t seem to sell too well.
Good luck Black Rock.
#17
DejaVu
25/01/11, 12:19 pm
“half of Disney Interactive Studios’ 700 staffers may have been cut.” – so 350 jobs had been lost – NOT 700! (350 is more than enough…)
#18
Hunam
25/01/11, 1:53 pm
Warren Spector should go to Eidos Montreal to be honest. I would sex wee if he did.
#19
J.L
25/01/11, 2:16 pm
Would’ve thought Disney would be well placed to go the other direction with special editions or bundles, eg. Split/Second toys and Pirates boardgames.