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IGN: Take-Two Is Quietly Killing Private Division (Indie Department)

Draugoth

Gold Member


In recent weeks, reports have surfaced that Take-Two is shuttering Kerbal Space Program 2 developer Intercept Games and OlliOlli World developer Roll7. Now, IGN has learned that not only are these closures imminent, but they are a part of a larger move by Take-Two to either sell off or shut down the entirety of its indie label, Private Division.

Earlier this month, Take-Two CEO Strauss Zelnick told IGN that Take-Two "didn't shutter" its owned indie studios Intercept Games and Roll7. At the time, that was technically true; both studios are currently operational, but they won't be for long. Speaking to multiple anonymous sources familiar with the matter, IGN has independently confirmed that Intercept Games is set to close on June 28, following a notice period required by the Washington State WARN Act. Roll7, too, is similarly winding down, though a small team remains to tie up loose ends.

Meanwhile, Take-Two wants to offload Private Division, one way or another. In February, IGN understands employees were told layoffs were imminent, but not given specifics on how many, why, or what was happening. Then, at the end of April, employees of the label were told by management that Take-Two would no longer support Private Division, at which time almost all the staff were laid off.

A small crew remains to support the remaining announced games with which Private Division has publishing deals: Moon Studios' No Rest for the Wicked (which is currently in early access), Wētā Workshop's Tales of the Shire, and an untitled project from Game Freak. Take-Two has backed out of two other publishing deals it had previously agreed to under the label - one previously reported deal with Bloober Team, and another sources described to us that would have been with Ghostrunner developer One More Level.
 

HL3.exe

Member
That sucks. When Private Division first started I was actually exited. Take Two investing in more experimental AA and indie development with veterans devs sounds like a great idea. The creators of Assassin's Creed or the original Fallout, etc.

Even if the games where middling in the end, it's healthy for an industry to invest in new games and designs. Not to just lean on the establishment from 20+ years ago. And prevent institutional loss of knowledge and experienced devs from leaving the industry.
 

iHaunter

Member
If that's what's really happening. This would be a good opportunity for a cheap buy from Sony or Nintendo.
 

March Climber

Gold Member
Take two is probably saying 'Oh thank God Konami is in the news again. Now no one will be paying attention to our new layoffs.'

cleaning-lazy.gif
 

Woopah

Member
If that's what's really happening. This would be a good opportunity for a cheap buy from Sony or Nintendo.
Nintendo and Sony can publish indie games themselves. I don't see Private Division having much value to them.
 
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StreetsofBeige

Gold Member
I never understood it.

You fund a game, you don’t keep the IP, they profit, you take all the risk?

It was a dumb idea.
Private Division acts as publisher, so they get something out of it.

It seems R* made this division so any third party indie game doesn't get lumped into their grandiose GTA kinds of games (R* label) or sports (2K label). They dont want these small fry games tarnishing the image or branding.

If T2 is getting rid of Private Division, to me it means they dont want anything to do with this anymore and not worth the hassle. Funnel all resources to big games and sports.
 

Perrott

Member
I never understood it.

You fund a game, you don’t keep the IP, they profit, you take all the risk?

It was a dumb idea.
Yeah, same for EA Originals:

Andrew Wilson: "Oh, let's dump 125 million dollars into Immortals of Aveum, from which we're not going to profit nor own any IP due to the generous terms we offer these independent teams."

Amy Hennig: "Hey, we need to hire 50 people in the Bay Area over the next three years to support the development of our best-in-class action/adventure Star Wars game that we're developing internally at EA in order to support the massive investment made into securing the Star Wars license."

Andrew Wilson: "No, fuck you. We don't have any money for that."
 

Black_Stride

do not tempt fate do not contrain Wonder Woman's thighs do not do not
A sad sad day.
So we only really have EAO left in the triple I space?


If that's what's really happening. This would be a good opportunity for a cheap buy from Sony or Nintendo.

Private Division is an indie publisher, they dont own the IP they publish.
Roll7 and Intercept are under Private Division but their really Take-Two studios.
 
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