Sony Confirms DriveClub And WRC Developer Evolution Has Been Closed Down

DriveClub and WRC World Rally Championship developer Evolution Studios has unfortunately been shut down. The British games studio was snapped up by Sony in 2007 having developed off-road racer MotorStorm for the PlayStation 3’s launch. Sony had the final say in closing the studio down, whose final project, DriveClub, ran into difficulties following a shaky launch. Over the last year or two, it’s gone on to become one of the best arcade racing games out there, well - in my opinion, getting a new Bikes expansion as recently as December. Sony even showed off Evolution’s work with DriveClub and PSVR at GDC last week despite the imminent closure.

   In a statement issued by SCE Worldwide Studios they said 

“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.”

Sony is looking at reallocating Evolution staff to a number of other projects, as well as helping others find work elsewhere. Evolution’s closure follows swiftly in the footsteps of fellow British studio Lionhead. Development on Fable Legends was practically complete when Microsoft decided to step in and shutter the legendary studio for good.