Report: Developer GRIN Sees More Layoffs, Potential Studio Closures

[+Audioboxer Subscriber²]

Gamasutra has learned from reliable development sources that Stockholm-based developer GRIN has seen significant layoffs, and may be facing difficulty staying afloat.

The news comes after the company saw heavy layoffs earlier this year, no doubt the partial result of weaker-than-expected sales and critical reception to 2009 games like Bionic Commando, Wanted: Weapons of Fate, and Terminator Salvation.

According to a Swedish-language report from IDG this past June -- which went seemingly unreported in the English-language press -- the company has already closed its Barcelona and Gothenburg offices, events confirmed by Gamasutra sources.

Furthermore, the company's main Stockholm office may also be in jeopardy. Sources indicated to Gamasutra that employees have apparently been told not to show up for work, and the company may be undergoing some kind of closing or bankruptcy procedure.

The company saw a considerable rise in the last few years. Though it was founded in 1997, it was not until it was given responsibility for the PC versions of the Tom Clancy's Ghost Recon Advanced Warfighter games that GRIN started becoming more widely-known as a company. Since then, it has attracted an increasing number of development deals from major publishers before running into trouble earlier this year.

Interestingly, fellow Stockholm-based studio Fatshark today announced the multiplayer shooter Lead & Gold - Gangs of the Wild West; Fatshark uses GRIN's Diesel engine, and GRIN is a stakeholder in the company.

Gamasutra is following up with GRIN representatives and will update if new information is received.

Source: http://www.gamasutra.com/php-bin/news_index.php?story=24786

Also,

I just picked up chatter that Grin might be closing down. Apparently their employees were told that they don't have to show up for work tommorow.

This comes from a reliable source but I would like some more confirmation so I'm putting it in the rumor pile for now. Looking at the sales of Bionic Commando, Terminator and Wanted it wouldn't surprise me if they closed up shop.

[Ji@nBing]

Too bad for the employees, but I certainly won't miss the studio. The did a good job with BC: Re-Armed, but that's about it. I didn't play the "big" version of BC, but from all accounts they made a lot of baffling design choices on it.

[Jimmy0]

Outbreak Studios formed by ex-Grin staff

Twenty five former employees of troubled Swedish developer Grin have branched out to establish a brand new company.

Outbreak Studios will focus on titles for digital formats, including XBLA, PSN, PSPgo, iPhone and Games for Windows Live.

The team is lead by Peter Bjorklund, previously responsible for building the network engine for a number of DICE's Battlefield games. The majority of employees have worked on Grin's most recent titles; Terminator Salvation, Bionic Commando and Wanted: Weapons of Fate.

Grin has had a bad year, with reports indicating two of the company's studios in Barcelona and Gothenburg have already closed, and the fate of its Stockholm business in limbo.

Source: http://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/outb...y-ex-grin-staff

[DrunknMunky Veteran]

^ Awesome news, can't wait to see what they create :D

[Sethos]

Well, they are terrible developers so it's not sad to see them go, it is however sad to see them form again.

[Ji@nBing]

Well, they are terrible developers so it's not sad to see them go, it is however sad to see them form again.

I think the problems with Grin's games was poor management, not so much the fault of the "grunt" type folks working on the games. It's good to hear they got jobs so quick and it will be interesting to see what they can do.

[DrunknMunky Veteran]

The only problem was WB, all their other games despite not selling well, had pretty good ratings.

[Ji@nBing]

The only problem was WB, all their other games despite not selling well, had pretty good ratings.

Well like I said, the retail of BC seems to have some rather baffling design choices, and it's not well liked by the gaming community (despite getting decent reviews). It just seems like some of the higher ups made some dumb choices. I wouldn't fault the whole studio on that though. They did a few pretty good things and I think they had potential. Hopefully things will work out better with this new studio.

[Ayepecks]

Well, they are terrible developers so it's not sad to see them go, it is however sad to see them form again.

:laugh:

[DrunknMunky Veteran]

Well like I said, the retail of BC seems to have some rather baffling design choices, and it's not well liked by the gaming community (despite getting decent reviews). It just seems like some of the higher ups made some dumb choices. I wouldn't fault the whole studio on that though. They did a few pretty good things and I think they had potential. Hopefully things will work out better with this new studio.

Yeah there's no doubt about that, but it actually made me a fan of the series, and I purchased BC Re-armed because of it too.