Sony has closed DriveClub and Motorstorm developer Evolution Studios

News by Stephany Nunneley-Jackson News Editor

Published on March 22, 2016

Sony has shuttered DriveClub and Motorstorm developer Evolution Studios.

The studio's closure comes one year after 55 staffers were cut from the company. Sony said today it would try to relocate some employees to other studios.

Sony released the following statement to GI.biz on the closure:

"Regular reviews take place throughout SCE Worldwide Studios, ensuring that the resources that we have in such a competitive landscape can create and produce high quality, innovative and commercially viable projects.

As part of this process we have reviewed and assessed all current projects and plans for the short and medium term and have decided to make some changes to the European studios structure.

As a result, it has been decided that Evolution Studio will close.

It is regrettable that this decision will lead to compulsory redundancies. We accept that this decision will mean that we risk losing high calibre staff but by focusing on other Studios that already have exciting new projects in development we believe we will be in a stronger position going forward and able to offer the best possible content of the highest quality for our consumers.

Where possible we will try to reallocate people onto other projects. If appropriate opportunities are not possible within the company, we will assist staff in any way we can, including speaking with local employers and with other development companies.

Evolution has been an important part of SCE Worldwide Studios for over 10 years - working on ground-breaking racing titles like WRC, Motorstorm and DRIVECLUB.

This decision should not take anything away from the great work that Evolution has produced."

DriveClub was announced as a launch title for PlayStation 4 when the console was revealed in early 2013. It suffered various development setbacks and didn't release until well after the console hit stores.

Back in August, Sony announced the game had sold over 2 million copies before the PlayStation Plus Edition became available for free.