Potential buyers hover over Bizarre

By Fred Dutton Published 17 November, 2010

Microsoft rumoured to be in chasing pack.

Things are looking up for staff at Bizarre Creations today, following yesterday's news that a trip to the job centre might be in the offing. Apparently a number of buyers are interested in picking up the Blur studio.

An inside source told Develop that, "there's multiple parties interested in buying us."

"We are still on consultation for 90 days," he added, "but things look much better than they did last night or this morning. Things here are changing at such a quick pace."

The source didn't name names but another Bizarre staffer earlier told Develop that Microsoft was among those sniffing around.

"Microsoft aren't stupid," he said, "they know we're talented and have spoken to Activision about us."

A Microsoft buy-out would make a degree of sense. After all, Bizarre Creations were the studio responsible for bringing the publisher's hugely successful racing franchise, Project Gotham Racing, into the world, prior to being purchased by Activision in 2007.

Microsoft is rumoured to be talking to a number of European developers about rebooting the Project Gotham series. Are we the only ones seeing a perfect fit here?

Yesterday, Activision announced it was winding down its involvement with Bizarre Creations. A statement from the publisher explained, "because of the broader economic factors impacting the market, we are exploring our options regarding the future of the studio, including a potential sale of the business."

Bizarre isn't the only Activision subsidiary getting thrown out with the bath water. Guitar Hero port factory Budcat Creations also received its marching orders yesterday.

Picture of Fred.

About Fred Dutton

Fred Dutton is Eurogamer's US news editor, based in Washington DC.

Read more articles from Fred by visiting the Fred Dutton archive page.

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Comments (29) Latest comment 2 years ago

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  • J0rdan_KZ #1 2 years ago

    Getting Microsoft back in charge of Bizarre would only be a good thing. MS would have a developer back for their PGR franchise (that I think they still own...) and we might get another Geometry Wars! Woo!

  • matrim83 #2 2 years ago

    I thought they already burnt their bridges with MS after that interview they did slating them for the lack of support while going on and on about how Activision were gonna provide them with the right support.

    The naiveté in that was almost painful to read.

  • beastmaster #3 2 years ago

    EA could buy them out too and get them to work on a new NFS game.

  • captain_Carl #4 2 years ago

    After MS shed most of their studios i'd be surprised to see them start buying again

  • MENTAL1ST Verified Senior Software Engineer, Picsel UK Ltd. #5 2 years ago

    Nah, Sega should buy them and have them make the long-awaited Metropolis Street Racer 2. That way, at least all their PS3 engine dev wouldn't go to waste, and we might get a proper racing game full of comparatively rubbish cars that we might actually be able to own one day, rather than ludicrous racetrack-bred supercars that it's ridiculous to try driving round Trafalgar Square.

    Although maybe that's just because my car was in MSR.

  • woodnotes #6 2 years ago

    I think PGR was getting pretty stale by the fourth iteration, it also bombed at retail.

    I actually like the idea of another developer given the chance to reboot it, rather than just handing it back to Bizarre so we can see their ugly grey/brown 30fps engine in use again.

    EDIT: But, fuck PGR. What about a GW spin-off?
    Edited by woodnotes at 17/11/10 @ 17:54

  • Malek86 #7 2 years ago

    I would be all for this. Maybe we could get a proper PGR5.

  • Slikz #8 2 years ago

    At least the PGR series had cars that handled well. The same cannot be said about some of the more popular racers.

  • LOLLERS #9 2 years ago

    If ever there was an ideal situation for someone to make Rallisport Challenge 3, this is it.

  • BBIAJ #10 2 years ago

    @beastmaster:

    EA already have Criterion and Slightly Mad Studios for that, not to mention Black Box and DICE helping out.

    That's more than enough without adding Bizarre into the mix.

  • leafmulch #11 2 years ago

    I can honestly say that playing PGR with friends has provided me with some of the most fun I've had playing games. And GW has been my fave shooter since I got my xbox and PGR2.

  • daz_john_smith #12 2 years ago

    Based on Microsoft's current heavily Kinect focused strategy, I would have thought that Harmonix would be a better fit. Considering Dance Central is one of the few Kinect games worth a damn you'd think Micosoft would be more interested in locking down that IP and it's developer if they're up for grabs.

    I think if they are going to buy up Bizarre Creations it would have to be at a very reasonable price. As others have mentioned Microsoft have been moving away from buying up developers and have also been letting some go.

    Edit/
    Harmonix also managed to create this for the Eye Toy which by all accounts works better than both Sonic Free Riders and Adrenalin Misfits on Kinect.
    Edited by daz_john_smith at 17/11/10 @ 18:31

  • Machetazo #13 2 years ago

    Return to MSR at Sega, would be where I'd wish to see things end.

  • Toothball #14 2 years ago

    @Mentalist(air)

    That's pretty much what I'd like to happen. I do like being able to drive my own car in games too. Seems somewhat unlikely though.

  • waggy79 #15 2 years ago

    @woodnotes
    If you think any pgr is ugly and grey/brown you need either your eyes or your tv tested.

  • Naptime #16 2 years ago

    Why would anyone actually "buy" Bizarre? I mean They don't have a IP catalog that worth anything except for geometry wars and their name. Activision already wants to close their doors. So a potential sutor only really needs to cover Activision cost for closing the studio. Otherwise you could just hire the fired staff and start a new studio!

  • Raznilof #17 2 years ago

    @woodnote - no it didn't bomb, look up the figures before shouting something you think you heard someone say somewhere.

    It sold better than the one before it even. Close to two million, in fact, only the very first one sold slightly better than that.

    edit: corrected a misspelled woodnote to woodnose... although the misspelling is funnier, the joke's on me to spell his/her name wrong when correcting his/her mistake.
    Edited by Raznilof at 17/11/10 @ 19:36

  • Der_tolle_Emil #18 2 years ago

    Gogo Microsoft!

  • Spekingur #19 2 years ago

    @LOLLERS: Yes, yes and effing yes! MS need to do Rallisport Challenge and try to relaunch some of those old popular PC games they once had - such as Motocross Madness. Would fit well into the consoles.

  • InfiniteFury #20 2 years ago

    Compared to the $500million spent on Kinect, this is the kind of PR boost for the loyal crowd that money can't buy.

    Just imagine it - first EA, then Microsoft. I don't even want to think of the circumstances surrounding Activision becoming the heroes of the day in the future.

  • Freek #21 2 years ago

    THQ woulden't surpise me, or Zenimax. They seem to be on a war path of aquisitions and have little to no presence in the racing genre.

  • Climhazzard #22 2 years ago

    Project Gotham Racing 5.......yes please???

  • Shikasama #23 2 years ago

    Would MS want to bring a rival to Forza out?

    Or are they two different kinds of racing games?

  • Der_tolle_Emil #24 2 years ago

    PGR and Forza are completely different.

    A while back there have been talks about those two games merging into one but I guess that is off the table.

  • LOLLERS #25 2 years ago

    Forza and Rallisport are even more different ;) Sorry, I'll stop now.

  • peterfll #26 2 years ago

    "ugly grey/brown 30fps"

    WTF?!

    Did you play it on a Vectrex or something?

  • taurus82 #27 2 years ago

    f*ck off, microshaft!

    I've got neg on my face, lol.
    Edited by taurus82 at 18/11/10 @ 10:50

  • Magicmullet #28 2 years ago

    Hopefully this is going to end up well for BC. Well at least the signs are favorable.

    That being said, I would really love to see a proper sequel to Metropolis Street Racer, although I'm also all for PGR5. The core message being, the sense of accomplishment should be brought back to racing games. MSR had that due to its generally challenging structure, which was accompanied with fantastic ideas like the car-specific "coefficients" and the Joker cards. Things that were not present in PGRs, let alone in other racing titles.

    Also, while I think PGR4 was a pretty solid outing, they should ditch the bikes and stick to cars.

    BUT, obviously they should be given the chance to develop another racing game first. Looking at their resume, this should be a given though.

  • Wash #29 2 years ago

    Get them, and move them on to Midtown Madness, perfect amalgamation of PGR with its city locales (altho go back to having standard cars as well) and Blurs arcade absurdity.

    then bring out PGR5 ;)