DJ aka GDR DJ Posted April 3, 2013 Posted April 3, 2013 Disney Shuts Down LucasArts, Cancels Star Wars 1313 And Star Wars: First Assault Disney has laid off the staff of LucasArts and cancelled all current projects. Staff were informed of the shutdown this morning, according to a reliable Kotaku source. Some 150 people were laid off, and both of the studio's current projects—Star Wars: First Assault and Star Wars 1313—were cancelled. Disney will still use the LucasArts name to license games, but the studio is no more.Publicly, Disney is saying their current games could be licensed out to a different publisher or developer, but according to our source, that's unlikely. Our source says Lucas has pursued the option for "one or both games," but nothing happened. "With the teams now basically being dispersed I think both games are effectively dead forever," our source said.A second source also told Kotaku this afternoon that the chances of Lucas licensing out 1313 are very slim. The odds are "effectively zero," the source said.“After evaluating our position in the games market, we’ve decided to shift LucasArts from an internal development to a licensing model, minimizing the company’s risk while achieving a broader portfolio of quality Star Wars games," LucasArts parent company LucasFilm said in a statement. "As a result of this change, we’ve had layoffs across the organization. We are incredibly appreciative and proud of the talented teams who have been developing our new titles.”This comes after weeks and months of rumors involving the studio, which was acquired by Disney last fall. In September, LucasArts put a freeze on all hiring and product announcements, which many staff saw as the beginning of the end. In February, we started hearing rumors that the studio might be shuttered. Today, it's official: the iconic development house is gone. read more here source Quote
Shinobi Posted April 3, 2013 Posted April 3, 2013 Wow... and I was actually looking forward to the new movies... Quote
Jefke Posted April 3, 2013 Posted April 3, 2013 Wow... and I was actually looking forward to the new movies... LucasArts != LucasFilms LucasArts = the game dev studio which was part of LucasFilms Quote
jaie Posted April 3, 2013 Posted April 3, 2013 (edited) was acquired by Disney last fall. In September, LucasArts put a freeze on all hiring and product announcements, which many staff saw as the beginning of the end. So what did disney gain from this? Who needs star wars anyways. Looking forwards to finding dory Edited April 3, 2013 by jaie Quote
b0rR*4cHo Posted April 3, 2013 Posted April 3, 2013 Correct me if I am wrong LucasArts just makes the games. LucasFilm is the one doing the movies. So the movies are not cancelled but the games are. I am not really a fan but to cancel something that has a huge fan base seems more costly than to keep going with production. That is like Peter Jackson saying he is canceling the last 2 parts of the Hobbit Quote
Saizou Posted April 4, 2013 Posted April 4, 2013 LucasArts made some really nice games. From X-wing series that I loved, Monkey Island series, Grim Fandango, KOTOR, Rogue Squadron, Battlefront and Star Wars games in general. For me, it's kind of a shame. Quote
StealthNinja Posted April 4, 2013 Posted April 4, 2013 LucasArts made some really nice games. From X-wing series that I loved, Monkey Island series, Grim Fandango, KOTOR, Rogue Squadron, Battlefront and Star Wars games in general. For me, it's kind of a shame. I agree. *Crying* Quote
GI-JOE Posted April 4, 2013 Posted April 4, 2013 odd, it's not like disney to kill off a huge cash cow so early...especially not one like LucasArts 1 Quote
Shinobi Posted April 4, 2013 Posted April 4, 2013 LucasArts != LucasFilms LucasArts = the game dev studio which was part of LucasFilms Wow i was looking forward to the new games Quote
The_Dom Posted April 4, 2013 Posted April 4, 2013 Yeah, I don't really understand why they would just kill this off. I really enjoyed some games they produced. Quote
Jefke Posted April 4, 2013 Posted April 4, 2013 (edited) Yeah, I don't really understand why they would just kill this off. I really enjoyed some games they produced. Maybe because there last developed title is Star Wars: The Force Unleashed 2 (2010), which wasn't a good game When was their last really good game? Star Wars 1313 did look promising though, but well that game might be saved ... odd, it's not like disney to kill off a huge cash cow so early...especially not one like LucasArts They didn't... They just reduced the risk, instead of making the games themself They just license their IP out. Less risk, still profit Edited April 4, 2013 by DrJoske Quote
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