If you have been on the internet at all today then you probably have already heard news that LucasArts has had a restructuring, turning from an inhouse development studio to one that chooses to license out its products. With this change in structure LucasArts is gone as we know it and has laid off over 150 employees. This change also affects Star Wars: 1313 and Star Wars: First Assault, effectively canceling each title indefinitely.
IGN contacted a company spokesperson who gave them this statement.
- “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. 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.”
LucasArts was founded in 1982 and has brought the gaming world some truly terrific titles, games such as the X-Wing series, Jedi Knight, and of course the amazing adventure titles from Tim Schaefer and Ron Gilbert. Although the studio really had been struggling in recent years, with the cancellation of Star Wars Battlefront 3 and mediocre results for Force Unleashed 2 and Kinect Star Wars, it is still a shame to see another veteran studio close up shop. We wish the best for all affected.
I posted about this too. It’s a shame but I guess from a business standpoint it makes sense.
I heard it too , i was shoked , and wha baffles more is why they did buy LucasArts last October and close the studio so fast it has not been a year yet
Disney bought LucasFilm, which LucasArts was just a division of. Disney is going ahead on more Star Wars films and products, but figured the LucasArts brand was better served as a smaller business.