Video Gamer is reader-supported. When you buy through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Prices subject to change. Learn more
Activision’s Social Media Manager Dan Amrich has openly criticised his employer’s decision to close Prototype 2 developer Radical Entertainment, saying that he’s “confused and conflicted and patently just [doesn’t] personally agree with the decision to close the studio.”
“This bad news was very difficult to take,” said Amrich talking on the latest episode of his One of Swords podcast.
“I’m friends with Ken Rosman, I’m friends with Dave Fracchia. These are guys that I like to hang out with in real life. I was gutted, I guess is the British phrase for it. I hated hearing that this was actually happening.”
Radical Entertainment was significantly downsized last week following Prototype’s failure to “find a broad commercial audience.”
The studio will no longer be able to create its own games, with those who remain at the studio being used to support development on “other existing Activision projects”.
“The thing that really bothers me is I think that they had plenty more games in them,” Amrich later added.
“I’m not… I’m still confused and conflicted and patently just don’t personally agree with the decision to close the studio, rather than… Even if you wind up giving them a temporary project or something? Do you need some more help with Call of Duty? You know?”
He continued: “They were going to have to downsize anyway, but to actually downsize them to the point where they can no longer create original games…”
Amrich later added that he felt the circumstances under which the studio was closed was “sad”.
“It’s sad more than anything, because that studio had a 20 year history. So to just sort of say ‘You’re done’ because Prototype and Prototype 2 didn’t do the numbers that people expected to, that’s kind of…”
He did suggest that there was a valid reason for Radical’s closure, however.
“The thing that baffled me was seeing so many people say, ‘Well, I didn’t play either of the Prototype things but this is a shame that should have never happened’. And I’m like, there is a causal link there. If [Radical] simply made a game that was not good enough for you to want to buy it, then this is the cause and effect.
“You are under no obligation to buy the games, but don’t pretend like you don’t understand how this works because if you’re not [inaudible] the product you go out of business.”
At the time of Radical’s closure, Activision said:
“Radical is a very talented team of developers, however, we have explored various options for the studio, including a potential sale of the business, and have made a difficult conclusion through the consultation process that the only remaining option is a significant reduction in staff.”
