UK studio Blitz Games to close after 23 years
At least 125 jobs go; new company will form as management hopes to save 50 positions
UK studio Blitz Games is to cease trading after 23 years in business.
However, management has said that it will continue with two projects under development and hopes to keep 50 of the 175 staff at the business in work by forming a new company.
"Frustrations with clients, the global economic crisis, and more than our fair share of simple bad luck have all conspired against us and we are no longer able to continue trading"
"We have managed to weather numerous storms over the last two decades that have sadly seen the demise of many of our friends and colleagues across the industry, but the run of problems we've had to face over the last year is unlike any we've seen before. Frustrations with clients, the global economic crisis, and more than our fair share of simple bad luck have all conspired against us and we are no longer able to continue trading," said founders Philip and Andrew Oliver in a statement.
"It has been an absolute honour to lead such an extraordinary group of highly talented people who have consistently pushed boundaries and created amazing games that we've been hugely proud of. We've been humbled by the loyalty and commitment that they've all shown over the last 23 years and we would like to express our heartfelt thanks to all of our staff, past and present, for their years of loyalty, their creative drive and their commitment to Blitz and to us.
"We have done all that we can to make Blitz a success, and we have come frustratingly close in recent months. Major clients have felt unable to commit to investment in significant projects, others have changed strategy whilst appearing committed, and others have been slow to commit at all - all of these things have continued to hurt our finances. We have also sustained the business for some time with our personal savings but even those reserves have now been exhausted.
In addition, Oxford-based Rebellion is in talks with management to potentially hire Blitz staff.
"We'd like to publicly thank Chris and Jason Kingsley from Rebellion for their support and friendship during this time - they are acting incredibly honourably and helping us to find new roles for as many of our staff as possible. They began their careers in games at around the same time we did and epitomise the positive and supportive culture of long-standing game developers in the UK.
"We wish the very best of luck to all the staff who are sadly leaving us today and thank them again for their drive, creativity and enthusiasm. They, like us, are passionate about games, and we call on the rest of the industry to capture their passion and continue the careers of some of the most talented young creatives in the country."
Blitz Games worked on a number of work-for-hire and licensed properties over its 23 years, and more recently kicked off its 1UP and IndieCity initiatives. It also has it's own internal BlitzTech suite of tools and serious games division, TruSim.
The Blitz Academy will be sorely missed, one of the best graduate programs around - and their internal staff development was very good as well. Blitz also had a diverse range of revenue streams which hopefully would have helped them steer through the more challenging times. Sadly this isn't the case.
Best of luck to those now facing unemployment, hopefully the efforts Philip & the team are making will ensure you secure new positions relatively soon
Everyone knows that the Olivers are two of the brightest, most committed, hard working people in the UK game industry.
They have built a company of incredible people. They have recruited with care and craft.
However the business they are in, contract development, has wafer thin margins and is in serious decline.
Blitz have dabbled at mobile but without seeming to understand the nature of the beast.
I am sure that the Olivers will bounce back. That is the sort of people they are.
I commiserate with all those who have lost their jobs and wish them the best for the future. At least they had their Blitz years, which is something they can be proud of.
In the Leamington district there are well over 30 game companies, of various sizes, employing thousands of people. So there is an active and vibrant job market. Especially for the quality of person employed by Blitz.
For startups Leamington is excellent because the various levels of local government are very switched on, both at politician and government officer level. There is a huge amount of support available.
"It has been an absolute honour to lead such an extraordinary group of highly talented people who have consistently pushed boundaries and created amazing games that we've been hugely proud of. We've been humbled by the loyalty and commitment that they've all shown over the last 23 years and we would like to express our heartfelt thanks to all of our staff, past and present, for their years of loyalty, their creative drive and their commitment to Blitz and to us.
"We have done all that we can to make Blitz a success, and we have come frustratingly close in recent months. Major clients have felt unable to commit to investment in significant projects, others have changed strategy whilst appearing committed, and others have been slow to commit at all - all of these things have continued to hurt our finances. We have also sustained the business for some time with our personal savings but even those reserves have now been exhausted.
"We'd like to publicly thank Chris and Jason Kingsley from Rebellion for their support and friendship during this time - they are acting incredibly honourably and helping us to find new roles for as many of our staff as possible. They began their careers in games at around the same time we did and epitomise the positive and supportive culture of long-standing game developers in the UK.
"We wish the very best of luck to all the staff who are sadly leaving us today and thank them again for their drive, creativity and enthusiasm. They, like us, are passionate about games, and we call on the rest of the industry to capture their passion and continue the careers of some of the most talented young creatives in the country."
Best of luck to all those effected.
There are roles available at Crytek's Nottingham Studio, which is just close enough to commute to from Leamington, so please do apply.
While a drop in the ocean for the amount looking for jobs, we are on the look out for a C++ coder so it's worth getting in touch: http://www.two-tails.com/jobs/
Am surprised though there was no Dizzy mobile games, you would think that would be perfect and a money maker.
Codemasters tried and failed.
http://www.codemasters.com/uk/dizzy/mobile/
EDIT: Just to add for the benefit of anyone from Blitz looking for a new position: Exient have decided to host a recruitment event specifically for you all at the Episode Hotel in Leamington Spa tomorrow from 11:00AM onwards. Please feel free to come and have a chat with us about possible job opportunities :)
Edited 1 times. Last edit by James Leedham on 12th September 2013 6:04pm
Best of luck to everyone there!
They also really, really cared about their staff. My fondest memories are of the last working day of each year when they used to hand out "Christmas stockings" to all of the staff. The gifts themselves were invariably great, but the thing that always stuck with me was the way that Philip and Andrew seemed to love handing them out. It was like watching parents hand out presents to their favourite children.
Best of luck for your future ventures, guys, and I hope that everyone affected by this dreadful news lands on their feet in the very near future.
Edited 1 times. Last edit by Matt Armstrong on 12th September 2013 6:04pm
Oh, damn, they did Droplitz too!
Edited 1 times. Last edit by Jonah Falcon on 12th September 2013 5:12pm
:(
Blitz gave me my start in the industry some 12 years ago and I still remember it so clearly. I still remember my interview with Philip at the end of the Blitz 2-day interview process and him asking me "so, do you want to work for us then?" after replying yes he then responded with "good, because we want you to work for us". They really were the most welcoming people in the business.
Also two of the nicest and most sincere men in our industry, I hope their next venture is successful. Good luck to all of the old Leamington crowd; I hope it works out for you!
One tip for ex-Blitz people looking for roles... try and take a little time to step back, switch off & clear your head. This will allow you to think more clearly about your next move. You may even choose to freelance; set up your own studio; take time out to develop projects with Unity. It may not be possible for everyone due to financial pressure, but if you have any breathing space treat this as an opportunity to explore things you may not have otherwise considered
Best of luck to you all
Best of luck to everyone involved and I am sure Oliver will return with the force.
Not sure though why they didn't just lay 125 people off rather than close the company down, essentially lay everybody off, and then hire 50 people back in to a new company?