By Upon its initial debut in 2000, TimeSplitters represented the commencement of a new chapter for the traditional format of console FPS gameplay that was first introduced in GoldenEye 007 and Perfect Dark. However, over 20 years have elapsed since the last installment of TimeSplitters was launched, and despite the dedicated attempts of the original developers, no formal resurgence has come to fruition, which may very well be the unfortunate truth of contemporary game creation.
David Doak was among the experienced veterans from Rare who established Free Radical Design and created TimeSplitters there. In 2021, Doak and several other original developers revitalized Free Radical under the auspices of the Embracer Group with intentions to rejuvenate the franchise, but the studio became one of many victims of Embracer’s extensive layoffs and studio shutdowns.
“I don’t believe it was our responsibility that it didn’t succeed,” Doak remarked during a discussion at EGX at MCM London Comic Con, as stated in a press communication from the event organizers. “I can’t elaborate much beyond that. Larger influences were in operation.”
Regardless of what those larger influences were – one could speculate numerous specific complications at various tiers of the corporate hierarchy – it seems that Doak perceives maintaining the essence that made TimeSplitters successful in the first place is challenging in the present age.
“I thin