Hard Light Productions Forums

Off-Topic Discussion => Gaming Discussion => Topic started by: deathspeed on August 31, 2023, 11:25:02 pm

Title: RIP Volition
Post by: deathspeed on August 31, 2023, 11:25:02 pm: :v: is no more, per a couple of articles i just saw after arriving home for the evening:

Ars Technica (https://arstechnica.com/gaming/2023/08/saints-row-red-faction-studio-volition-closes-suddenly-after-30-years/)

TechSpot (https://www.techspot.com/news/99993-holding-company-shuts-down-30-year-veteran-studio.html)

I know FreeSpace was never coming back due to issues discussed at length elsewhere, but this final nail in the coffin kinda stings.
Title: Re: RIP Volition
Post by: Fury on August 31, 2023, 11:36:31 pm: I just read the news. What a gut punch on a Friday morning. :(

Thank you Volition for Descent, FreeSpace, Red Faction, Saints Row and many other gems. :v-old:
Title: Re: RIP Volition
Post by: Scourge of Ages on August 31, 2023, 11:59:00 pm: One more on the corporate-buyout bonepile; they will be missed. *hunger games salute*
Title: Re: RIP Volition
Post by: Mobius on September 01, 2023, 12:14:41 pm: They've just released a public letter on their Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/100063583148245/posts/pfbid07BrkVihKQD8dymj6UUrJsHA16Xxg8t1HfYo3Phki5MZKTExj1CSEbAr5Xg2RhNxKl/) as well. Very sad news indeed. Even though they haven't done anything FS-related in ages, that logo kept the soul of FreeSpace alive across the years.

R.I.P., :v:
Title: Re: RIP Volition
Post by: JR2000Z on September 01, 2023, 12:23:00 pm: They've just celebrated their 30 year anniversary this past June.

And it's been a good 30 years.
Title: Re: RIP Volition
Post by: Goober5000 on September 01, 2023, 12:35:02 pm: RIP Volition, and thank you for not only the great games but also the great modding tools.
Title: Re: RIP Volition
Post by: Colonol Dekker on September 01, 2023, 03:54:37 pm: I remember freespace, starcraft and half-life from my youth as the Holy trinity of mod tool providers pre-2000.
Title: Re: RIP Volition
Post by: Mongoose on September 02, 2023, 01:45:46 am: Damn. :( Descent was the reason I got into PC gaming, and then combined with FS it was what led me to join my first online communities. Thank you for what you gave us all those years ago.
Title: Re: RIP Volition
Post by: Novachen on September 02, 2023, 03:44:47 am: Really, that is not a surprise.

Saints Row: The Third was released over 10 years ago. It was actually their last good game.

After that they made very questionable game design decisions. IMO already Saints Row 4 went to a wrong direction.

So i am actually surprised that they have lasted ten more years.
Title: Re: RIP Volition
Post by: Hippo on September 02, 2023, 04:21:30 pm: RIP
Title: Re: RIP Volition
Post by: 0rph3u5 on September 02, 2023, 10:01:23 pm: I agree with Novachen - it was hardly a suprise after their last two releases failed to "find an audience". Add to that that the studio appears to have pigeon-holed themselves compared to the late 90s/early 2000s-era, where their output is semingly more fondly remembered, there probably wasn't a lifeline to be had with the investors.

It is sad to see that they did not go out on a high note.
Title: Re: RIP Volition
Post by: Fantomeye on September 03, 2023, 01:36:50 pm: Well this news is a bummer. Not like there was any real chance of FS3 coming out, but this is truly the nail in that coffin
Title: Re: RIP Volition
Post by: karajorma on September 05, 2023, 02:58:46 am: I quite liked Saint's Row 4 and Gat out of Hell but I never bothered with their newer games.
Title: Re: RIP Volition
Post by: Firesteel on September 13, 2023, 12:33:31 pm: I had a lot of fun with Saints Row 4 and Freespace is the reason I became a programmer and designer in the first place. I'm still sad they didn't keep going with Red Faction and all the destruction tech after they ran out of ideas for Saints Row. And I hope the folks who were still there land on their feet
Title: Re: RIP Volition
Post by: Goober5000 on September 19, 2023, 12:20:45 pm: I dug up ZylonBane's old Flash animation and converted it to video:
Title: Re: RIP Volition
Post by: Colonol Dekker on September 19, 2023, 01:40:51 pm: Now that's a name I've not heard in a long time...
Title: Re: RIP Volition
Post by: kode on February 06, 2024, 07:22:30 am: It seems at least some former employees have formed a new company called Shapeshifter:

https://www.gameinformer.com/news/2024/01/30/former-volition-developers-form-new-studio-shapeshifter-games
Title: Re: RIP Volition
Post by: Scourge of Ages on February 06, 2024, 10:02:45 am: I do enjoy when the workers make the best of a bad situation like that. Hopefully it means they'll be able to make something cool.