Blitz Games Studios ceases trading

[Beck]

 

 

BLITZ GAMES STUDIOS OFFICIAL STATEMENT

Leamington Spa, UK, Thursday 12th September 2013, 11am

 

For immediate release

 

Award-winning and highly respected UK independent developer Blitz Games Studios announces that it has ceased trading this morning after 23 years.

 

Existing management have made every effort to seek avenues for new contracts and external investment but have been unable to secure enough funds to sustain the business in its current form.

 

However, two of the developer's current projects are self-sustaining financially so Blitz senior management will be forming a new company to service these clients and safeguard approximately 50 of the 175 jobs being lost today. More details on this new company will be released shortly.

 

In addition, Oxford-based developer Rebellion are also in close talks with Blitz management to potentially hire some of the remaining staff. Any other prospective employers are invited to contact Blitz at philipoliver@BlitzGamesStudios.com for details of any staff now seeking work.

Blitz Games Studios Co-Founder and CEO Philip Oliver issued the following comment:

 

“We have managed to weather numerous storms over the last two decades that have sadly seen the demise of many of our friends and colleagues across the industry, but the run of problems we've had to face over the last year is unlike any we've seen before. Frustrations with clients, the global economic crisis, and more than our fair share of simple bad luck have all conspired against us and we are no longer able to continue trading.

 

It has been an absolute honour to lead such an extraordinary group of highly talented people who have consistently pushed boundaries and created amazing games that we've been hugely proud of. We've been humbled by the loyalty and commitment that they've all shown over the last 23 years and we would like to express our heartfelt thanks to all of our staff, past and present, for their years of loyalty, their creative drive and their commitment to Blitz and to us.

 

We have done all that we can to make Blitz a success, and we have come frustratingly close in recent months. Major clients have felt unable to commit to investment in significant projects, others have changed strategy whilst appearing committed, and others have been slow to commit at all – all of these things have continued to hurt our finances. We have also sustained the business for some time with our personal savings but even those reserves have now been exhausted.

 

We'd like to publicly thank Chris and Jason Kingsley from Rebellion for their support and friendship during this time – they are acting incredibly honourably and helping us to find new roles for as many of our staff as possible. They began their careers in games at around the same time we did and epitomise the positive and supportive culture of long-standing game developers in the UK.

 

We wish the very best of luck to all the staff who are sadly leaving us today and thank them again for their drive, creativity and enthusiasm. They, like us, are passionate about games, and we call on the rest of the industry to capture their passion and continue the careers of some of the most talented young creatives in the country.”

 

http://www.blitzgamesstudios.com/who-we-are

Edited September 12, 2013 by Beck

[Chimeray]

"Stop trading". What a bad way to word that o.O I thought they meant they bought their studio free from the stock market, or something. But they closed down?

[Rick_D]

this is pretty sad, blitz were one of the better studios in the uk.

hopefully the guys and gals find jobs soon, and don't have to resort to rebellion.

[Beck]

"Stop trading". What a bad way to word that o.O I thought they meant they bought their studio free from the stock market, or something. But they closed down?

 

Yep, closed. 

 

They're starting a new company and keeping 50 people to keep a couple of games going that they're working on but the other 125 are going.

[Jord]

Sad times. Hope those affected find something. They say they're keeping 50 jobs but 125 out of work is still a lot.

[PogoP]

this is pretty sad, blitz were one of the better studios in the uk.

hopefully the guys and gals find jobs soon, and don't have to resort to rebellion.

 

In one what way do you mean? Sure, they were a big, long running and established company in the UK and I'm sure it was quite a comfy job to have, but they haven't exactly produced any decent games recently, just licenced stuff. 

 

Still, it's always sad to think of the people affected by this. Best of luck to everyone. Do we have any Blitz people here on Mapcore?

[Jord]

 

this is pretty sad, blitz were one of the better studios in the uk.

hopefully the guys and gals find jobs soon, and don't have to resort to rebellion.

 

In one what way do you mean? Sure, they were a big, long running and established company in the UK and I'm sure it was quite a comfy job to have, but they haven't exactly produced any decent games recently, just licenced stuff. 

 

Still, it's always sad to think of the people affected by this. Best of luck to everyone. Do we have any Blitz people here on Mapcore?

 

 

Not according to the job census. I think they've been on rough ground for a while now and dodged a few bullets. Still didn't see this coming, they've been steadily working on whatever licensed stuff they can get their hands on. They had quite a lot of staff though, one of the bigger studios for the Midlands.

Edited September 12, 2013 by Jord

[Minos]

CAn't say I ever played a Blitz game 

[Rick_D]

 

this is pretty sad, blitz were one of the better studios in the uk.

hopefully the guys and gals find jobs soon, and don't have to resort to rebellion.

 

In one what way do you mean? Sure, they were a big, long running and established company in the UK and I'm sure it was quite a comfy job to have, but they haven't exactly produced any decent games recently, just licenced stuff. 

 

Still, it's always sad to think of the people affected by this. Best of luck to everyone. Do we have any Blitz people here on Mapcore?

 

 

i had a number of friends there and ex-colleagues. by all accounts the studio culture was really good, they just had a bad run.

[PogoP]

Yeah. When I went to one of their open days when I was at uni, I got the impression that they were a very nice bunch of guys and the atmosphere in the office seemed really great! Such a shame.

 

Hope your friends/colleagues manage to find something soon! And everyone else of course