Were you with us in hoping Crytek might sneak out the unlikely-but-glorious news that they'd been working on TimeSplitters 4 for the last 3 years? Yeah, well prepare to have your dreams dashed to pieces as Crytek's Cevat Yerli has suggested that it wouldn't work on current platforms, and that there are "fundamental issues" with the concept.
"The thing with TimeSplitters is, if we made a sequel to TimeSplitters, nobody would accept this apart from some fans, and we don’t know how big the fan community is unfortunately,” said Yerli, chatting to CVG.
“And we don’t want to design this as a packaged goods game that launches on a console, and even if we wanted to I don’t think publishers would like the idea. That is the truth, and that was the truth even before we bought Free Radical.”
There was a period a few weeks back where a couple of the ex-Free Radical devs were doing the rounds, talking about the studio's history, and Steve Ellis spoke of publisher rejections, the enormous budgets required to make FPS titles, and the conservatism of industry suits. Yerli, it would seem, shares the same reservations as those publishers.
“The concept behind TimeSplitters was pitched around before we took over and Free Radical had no luck. We think even on CryEngine and with Crytek behind it there would be fundamental issues with the concept,” he said.
“I love the idea, and I wish we’ll work on it, but currently we are not working on it. I wish we were working on it. I will say that. I think hopes are high, but change has to happen in the platform space.”
That change could be coming, though; particularly as Crytek are preparing a smooth transition into the free-to-play space, supported by their social gaming network - G-Face.
“I’m very excited potentially about the idea of a TimeSplitters for G-Face. TimeSplitters had one of the most fun multiplayer games ever, and G-Face is a social entertainment platform – it’s about online gaming. I love the idea of a TimeSplitters for G-Face,” he said.
F2P TimeSplitters? Actually yes, I'd be very up for that...or, you know, give us a triple-threat HD collection.
