Realtime talking Crackdown with Microsoft

By Robert Purchese Published 22 December, 2008

Sequel unlikely to go elsewhere.

Crackdown developer Realtime Worlds has said it's in "ongoing discussions" with Microsoft following reports that Crackdown 2 is being developed by a new studio, Ruffian, formed by ex-RTW staffers.

"Although to date we haven't had an offer from Microsoft for the Crackdown sequel rumoured, we continue to have ongoing discussions with them," studio chief Colin MacDonald told videogaming247.

"I also very much doubt that Microsoft would harm an otherwise fruitful existing development relationship by gambling on funding Crackdown 2 with a startup on RTW's doorstep, for obvious reasons."

Realtime Worlds boss and Grand Theft Auto creator Dave Jones added that he would be "gutted not to be involved", and said if Microsoft did go elsewhere, he hoped the team picked would be more established and capable of offering "the quality gaming experience Crackdown players would demand".

MacDonald explained that "maybe five or six" former employees had been snapped up by Ruffian, but said "the vast majority of the Crackdown team remain at RTW".

Realtime Worlds currently has its hands full with urban MMO APB, which is expected to launch sometime next year. There's also, added MacDonald, "an unannounced project that will cause quite a stir when unveiled". Perhaps it's Crackdown 2! [Droll - Ed].

Crackdown, an Xbox 360 exclusive, launched in early 2007 and offered up a cel-shaded openworld where super-powered agents were tasked with wiping the city of various crime lords and factions.

Among the chief attractions were online jump-in co-op, plus various exaggerated explosions and rooftop acrobatics. Very good, said we.

Picture of Robert.

About Robert Purchese

Bertie is Eurogamer's Senior Staff Writer. When he's not hunting down news stories he's often found playing with his kids or gabbling about fantasy games and strange online worlds.

Read more articles from Robert by visiting the Robert Purchese archive page.

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Comments (42) Latest comment 3 years ago

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  • Eraysor #1 3 years ago

    Crackdown 2 would be delicious. The acrobatics were great.

  • X #2 3 years ago

    Indeed, would look forward to this. Obviously if they haven't even started it yet our dream could be three years off :/

  • spidermanalf #3 3 years ago

    I loved Crackdown, one of the only games I have completed and go back for more on!

  • Uncle_Fishboy #4 3 years ago

    For me, no experience on the 360 has surpassed climbing to the top of the agency tower in the sunset, then leaping the fuck back off the top and hearing the plink of the achievement as you land in the water. Brilliant gaming moment

  • DFawkes #5 3 years ago

    +1 to Uncle_Fishboy, I did that on a friends 360, bought my own 360 days later.

  • GamesConnoisseur #6 3 years ago

    Uncle Fishboy, second that! One of the best achievement unlocked I have had! The vertigo of climbing up the tallest building and a moment or two of hesistation before braving the jump and the looong time falling and fear of splatting onto the concrete but ratpures at accomplishing the neat dive into the water!

    Non X360 and Crackdown owners wont know the experience!

  • penhalion #7 3 years ago

    Given the guy who designed crackdown is at the new studio. Microsoft are going to be taking a real risk giving it to realtime instead.

  • andyc1980 #8 3 years ago

    i love puttin keys to the city on an havin a laff aswell jus drivin round blowin fuckout of evrythin

  • muscleblade #9 3 years ago

    Crackdown is the best sandbox game this generation. Beats both GTAIV and SR2 imo.

  • mazzl #10 3 years ago

    i must agree... crackdown is still my favorite game this generation, can't wait for some more orb hunting!

  • Dizzy #11 3 years ago

    One of the best games this gen. Loved every second of it. More Crackdown, when done right, would be great.

  • Spanky #12 3 years ago

    Realtime worlds might complain but they were the ones who loved to say "There will be no Crackdown 2" so i don't blame microsoft for asking someone else to make it instead. Hopefully it's the kick in the arse RTW need to get the ball rolling. I don't care who make it as long as it's great(and has motorbikes and helicopters oh and rival agents).

  • Skooch #13 3 years ago

    Crackdown had so much wrong with it, but even more that was right. It was a flawed game but still offered up so much delicious fun that a sequel would be amazing!!! It is one of the only games I have got 1250 GP for :)

  • Xerx3s #14 3 years ago

    Sounds rather desperate imo. Surely if ms is already hinting at a sequel, the contracts are already locked down. If that's true, it's pretty obvious who was kept out of the loop.

  • smernicki #15 3 years ago

    crackdown 2. yes!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

    probably still my most played 360 game to date. addictive, ridiculous, ott. everything you want in a sandbox game

  • DoctorZoidberg #16 3 years ago

    I'm going to play devil's advocate here.

    I had crackdown (it came with my 360) and I found it all rather dull and boring, and very repetitive.

    There seem's to be a lot of love for this game, and i never really understood it.

    Maybe it is a great game, but I think I've "outgrown" the whole sandbox game. GTA or SR or this or anything like that just does not appeal to me any more.

  • t8yman #17 3 years ago

    I have always hated GTA and its ilk, but crackdown had me hooked. I loved it, and as has been said before - the basejumper achievement is still my favourite ever 360 moment.

    crackdown 2 would be awesome news!

  • Frandroid #18 3 years ago

    Maybe it's the way the quotes have been selected but it sounds like there's a little friction between Realtime Worlds and Ruffian.

  • peterfll #19 3 years ago

    I would kick people off rooftops, sending them flying, then jump to another and whilst in the air send the next set of hoodlums a rocket via my grenade launcher. Superb.

  • Rich72 #20 3 years ago

    DoctorZoidberg, something inside you must have died. i'm so sorry :o(

  • octavedoctor #21 3 years ago

    Crackdown was just simply marvelous.

    i particularly enjoyed throwing objects onto the motorways and watching the ensuing pile ups!

    Hmmm, a sequel seems ages away now *sigh* ....back to SR2 - the everflowing well of fun...

  • optimusprym8 #22 3 years ago

    I think RTW should just concentrate on making APB a worthwhile title
    Edited by 1 at 22/12/08 @ 10:50

  • smernicki #23 3 years ago

    crackdown had some of the most fun achievements to date- the already mentioned base jumping, the body juggling, pinning dead bodies to cars

    the maxed out vehicles were ace too

  • stodgypudding #24 3 years ago

    Going the wrong way down a motorway at top speed in the maxed out agency supercar :)

  • The-Bodybuilder #25 3 years ago

    crackdown= only sandbox game to date I've ever finished.

    Realtime only have themselves to blame. Any other indie company would jump at the chance to continue to develop such a franchise with such a huge publisher. MS have a new IP hit on their hands, and don't want to wait more than 2 years for a sequel (and considering RTW haven't even started work on it, we wouldn't expect it for a while).
    They've taken a too-relaxed approach to MS. Sure they want to put all their effort on APB, but do they honestly expect MS to just stand around twaddling thier thumbs until RTW are ready?

  • smernicki #26 3 years ago

    crackdown has left me with really high hopes for APB- i hope it doesn't disappoint.......

  • GitSomE_UK #27 3 years ago

    Crackdown is a 360 classic as said elsewhere easily the best sandbox shooter of this gen so far.

    Why? Because it's just so much fun!

  • smernicki #28 3 years ago

    depends on how you look at it- they claim MS weren't interested in a sequel at first, so they couldn't really just sit about and do nothing and wait for them to make their mind up. When MS decided they wanted crackdown 2 they'd put most of their resources onto APB. their head of studio might like to sound off a lot, but to me it just sounds like common business sense...

  • the_dudefather #29 3 years ago

    think part of the problem that MS took ages to actually ask for a sequel while RTW hung around waiting for a reply, then by the time they thought a sequel would be a good idea, RTW had moved onto APB and whatever else they are working on

    oh well, a crackdown sequel that built on the original and added more content would be ace

  • insincere_dave #30 3 years ago

    If only you lot knew the truth behind RTW / Ruffian... highly entertaining.

  • glaeken #31 3 years ago

    The depressing thing is RTW putting all this time into APB when they could have been working on Crackdown 2.

    APB may turn out fine but its an MMO so not something I am ever going to play.

  • harzo #32 3 years ago

    I bought this game for the Halo 3 code, and played it for like an hour and got bored. Some bosses were too tough, some supply points too high. Then began the orb hunting. Soon I realised I could climb an entire mountain, jump down 100ft from above on top of an unsuspecting boss, while simulaneously unloading 5 rockets on his sorry ass. Bliss. EASILY the best game I have ever played on the 360!

  • SpaceMidget75 Verified Senior Software Developer, Minerva Computer Services #33 3 years ago

    Probably my favourite game this gen too.

    If Crackdown was repetitive, then it is in the same way Donkey Kong is. Doesn't mean its not a great game.

    Part of the challenge in Crackdown was figuring out how to actually get to the bosses. Great fun and much better than just putting the boss in a room with lots of goons to shoot first.

    It's also a great example of how important controls & handling are to a game. It was smooth as silk and bloody responsive. It just felt right.

    It's one of those games that I'm sure would score higher in reviews from a retrospective point of view.

    @insincere_dave spill the beans please!!?

  • SEVQA #34 3 years ago

    @insincere_dave is that insincere Dave Jones by any chance? If so then yes please do spill the beans!

  • SEVQA #35 3 years ago

    Hey RTW why not pick up the Superman license! Because if anyone made me feel I could leap a tall building in a single bound it was you.

  • RedSparrows #36 3 years ago

    I love the fluidity and expanse of the game.

    A shame it's shallow to the max.

  • DAN.E.B #37 3 years ago

    Still my fave game this gen!
    it really is first class! i just hope the sequel can live up to it!
    Edited by 1 at 23/12/08 @ 00:12

  • smernicki #38 3 years ago

    insencere dave: people who come on forums and put posts like that up are smug egotistical cunts

  • effinwooly #39 3 years ago

    crackdown is a fantastic game, one of the 360 top tier, if not the very best

  • cyber_nicco #40 3 years ago

    If he really knew anything about the feud, he would have said what it was. Phonies like that really rub me the wrong way...

  • cyber_nicco #41 3 years ago

    oh, and Crackdown is an awesome game.

  • CaptainScarlet #42 3 years ago

    I wonder who owns the game code? Will they be building it from scratch or is it just going to be new design and game play in the current engine? If it's from scratch I wouldn't expect this one out in a hurry. Didn't it take about 4 years for the first Crackdown to come out?

    The first one is a great game! I just hope they don't thrash out a shoddy/rushed sequel to cash in on it's success!
    Edited by 1 at 24/12/08 @ 10:01