Layoffs at Codemasters

[LaoJim]

Eurogamer are reporting that Codemasters are to lay off 50 staff from a total of 500 globally.

http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2015-01-09-layoffs-hit-f1-and-dirt-developer-codemasters?utm_source=eurogamer&utm_medium=in-article-promo

Obviously its sad when anyone loses their job and I've long had a soft spot for Codemasters all the way back to when it was just the adolescent Darling brothers coding Ninja Scooter Simulator in their bedroom.

A couple of years ago, when Codemasters announced that they were going to focus exclusively on making racing games, I thought it was a smart move; Dirt and Grid being their greatest games at the time. However since then we've had Dirt Showdown, Grid 2 and F1 Race Stars, none of them great (haven't played Grid Autosport yet). Its somewhat strange that since starting to focus on racing games the quality seems to have declined. Nevertheless, we seem to get fewer and fewer racing games (good or otherwise) and it would be sad to see Codemasters disappear completely, so here's hoping they can turn it around. I'm tempted at the moment to go out and get Autosport and F1 2014 just to show a little support.

 

[josemlopes]

They have been fucking up every release since the original Dirt and Grid so it isnt unexpected.

Dirt 2 and 3 are kind of debatable though since by themselfs they are good but the "radical party, dude" attitude of 2 and the "Ken Block Simulator 2011" that was Dirt 3 could put some people off the franchise.

Autosport is still shit (not as bad as 2 though) and F1 2014 is like most other recent F1 games by Codemaster, a rehash of their first F1 game from 2009 or 2010, cant remember well, if I remember well the second F1 game was actually an improvement but on the first one but the others dont seem to offer much new and usually get rid of some stuff.

 

[Baron Tanks]

As much as I hate to say it, I can?t say I?m all that surprised by it. Their change of focus to racing games only was always because they were already struggling, not some noble change of heart. Add to that the somewhat lacklustre reception for some of their titles, the F1 gravy train stagnating along with the lack of innovation. Besides, they?re a lot of effort but I wonder how much of a profit they turn, those licensing deals must be as clenched as an iron fist. I don?t see how they are getting out of this with their current portfolio and upcoming titles. I?ll have to give them credit for one thing, I just went on their web page and it?s very elegantly designed, no noticeable loading times whatsoever.