Codemasters has announced it has acquired the team behind Evolution Studios, less than a month after Sony announced it would be shutting down the developer.
Evolution Studios, who were responsible for many high-profile racing series such as MotorStorm, WRC and most recently DriveClub, were shut down by Sony in late March after having been a loyal first-party studio to the console manufacturer since their first release in 2001. But now Codemasters, who have worked with Evolution on a number of games over the years, have announced they will officially employ those who found themselves out of work following Sony’s shock announcement last month.
A statement from Codemasters reads:
“Over the last 30 years, Codemasters and Evolution Studios have created some of the most successful racing franchises in the industry, including GRID®, DiRT®, DRIVECLUB and MotorStorm. This expansion will not only see us gain a wealth of racing expertise and skill, but it’ll take Codemasters to the next level as the world’s largest racing-focused games company. With phenomenal racing DNA on both sides, we hope that gamers out there are excited to see what we do next – as are all of us here at Codies.”
Additionally, Evolution’s former group director Michael Hocking will be given a new role within Codemasters as the developer’s VP of Product Development. Codemasters’ CEO Frank Sagnier said that the new union would allow Codemasters “to scale our business and strengthen our leadership as the world’s premier racing game developer,” adding: “I look forward to the great games and brand new IP we will develop together.”
It has yet to be revealed what this new IP will be, but it’s great to see the team at Evolution being afforded the opportunity to carry on doing what they do best.
