Editing TimeSplitters (section)

====''TimeSplitters 4''====
In June 2007, the ''[[PlayStation Official Magazine – UK|Official UK PlayStation Magazine]]'' reported on a rumour that another installment of the ''TimeSplitters'' series was in development by Free Radical as an exclusive for the [[PlayStation 3]].<ref>{{Cite web|last=Torretta|first=Colin|date=2007-06-29|title=Rumor: New Timesplitters is in development as a PlayStation 3 exclusive|url=https://www.engadget.com/2007-06-29-rumor-new-timesplitters-is-in-development-as-a-playstation-3-ex.html|access-date=2020-11-21|website=[[Engadget]]|language=en}}</ref> In the following August, Rob Yescombe, scriptwriter for the series' previous title, confirmed that "''TimeSplitters 4'' is happening", but stated that the game was "in the very early concept stages, and as yet it's unsigned to any publisher."<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|last=Ogden|first=Gavin|date=2007-08-08|title=TimeSplitters 4 - first details|url=https://www.gamesradar.com/timesplitters-4-first-details/|access-date=2020-11-21|website=[[GamesRadar+]]|language=en}}</ref> Despite the previously rumoured PS3 exclusivity, Yescombe stated that no specific release platforms had been established.<ref name=":0" /><ref name="kotaku">{{cite web|last=Crecente|first=Brian|date=August 8, 2007|title=Free Radical Talks TimeSplitters 4|url=http://kotaku.com/gaming/original/free-radical-talks-timesplitters-4-286995.php|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090823031849/http://kotaku.com/gaming/original/free-radical-talks-timesplitters-4-286995.php|archive-date=August 23, 2009|access-date=November 10, 2010|publisher=[[Kotaku]]}}</ref> "I'm sure it's possible to do a control scheme that works", co-creator David Doak added, when asked about his thoughts on developing a first-person shooter for the [[Wii]].<ref>{{Cite web|last=Bishop|first=Stuart|date=2007-09-25|title=Free Radical eyeing Wii for TimeSplitters 4|url=https://www.gamesradar.com/free-radical-eyeing-wii-for-timesplitters-4-10/|access-date=2020-11-21|website=[[GamesRadar+]]|language=en}}</ref> Of the game's timeline, Yescombe stated that "the game's not a very long way away but it's not a very short way away either. It's somewhere in the middle."<ref name=":0" />

A further announcement of the game took place on the Free Radical website the following October.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Siegel|first=S.|date=2007-10-10|title=Timesplitters 4 officially official|url=https://www.engadget.com/2007-10-10-timesplitters-4-officially-official.html|access-date=2021-05-21|website=[[Engadget]]|language=en-US}}</ref> An early logo revealed for the game was a parody of the ''[[Gears of War]]'' logo, with a monkey head replacing the skull from the original.<ref name="kotaku" /><ref name="news">{{cite web|date=June 28, 2007|title=OPM UK confirms new TimeSplitters game|url=http://ps3.qj.net/OPM-UK-confirms-new-Timesplitters-game/pg/49/aid/96263|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090319071204/http://ps3.qj.net/OPM-UK-confirms-new-Timesplitters-game/pg/49/aid/96263|archive-date=March 19, 2009|access-date=November 10, 2010|publisher=QuickJump}}</ref> Free Radical also sent out an early [[Teaser campaign|teaser trailer]] depicting a monkey in [[Master Chief (Halo)|Master Chief]]'s combat armour from the ''[[Halo (franchise)|Halo]]'' franchise.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Jarvis|first=James 10|date=2007-10-10|title=Halooo TimeSplitters 4!|url=https://www.gamesradar.com/halooo-timesplitters-4/|access-date=2020-11-25|website=[[GamesRadar+]]|language=en}}</ref> This led to expectation of "in-game potshots" at those games and other gaming franchises,<ref name="news" /> a prediction confirmed by Yescombe:<blockquote>"In the past ''Timesplitters'' has been very satirical at the expense of movies, this time it will be satirical at the expense of video games."<ref name="kotaku" /></blockquote>Free Radical released further details on ''TimeSplitters 4'' in 2008, mentioning that it would not use the much-criticised ''[[Haze (video game)|Haze]]'' engine, instead opting for some "new and double shiny tech;"<ref>{{cite web|last=Blattberg|first=Eric|date=2008-08-30|title=TimeSplitters 4 eschews Haze engine, TS2 HD remake hinted|url=http://www.psu.com/TimeSplitters-4-eschews-Haze-engine,-TS2-HD-remake-hinted-News--a0004693-p0.php|access-date=November 10, 2010|website=PlayStation Universe}}</ref> however, after going into administration, Free Radical was bought out by [[Crytek]] and rebranded as Crytek UK in February 2009.<ref name=":31">{{Cite web|last=Onyett|first=Charles|date=2009-02-04|title=Crytek Purchases Free Radical|url=https://www.ign.com/articles/2009/02/05/crytek-purchases-free-radical|access-date=2020-11-21|website=[[IGN]]}}</ref> Following this acquisition, the ''TimeSplitters'' project was subsequently placed "on hold."<ref name=":32">{{Cite web|date=2020-11-16|title=[UPDATE] THQ Nordic say the TimeSplitters 2 leak was a joke|url=https://www.thesixthaxis.com/2020/11/16/timesplitters-2-remake-leak-ps5-xbox-series-x-s-ps4-xbox-one-switch/|access-date=2020-11-21|website=The SixthAxis|language=en-US}}</ref> In a later interview, co-creator Steve Ellis confirmed that:<blockquote>"''TimeSplitters 4'' was in the very early stages of development when Free Radical went into administration ... A small playable demo was shown to several publishers, but it didn't attract any publishing deals."<ref name=":1">{{Cite web|last=Yin-Poole|first=Wesley|date=2012-11-27|title=Ex-Free Radical devs reveal why publishers turned down TimeSplitters 4|url=https://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2012-11-27-ex-free-radical-devs-reveal-why-publishers-turned-down-timesplitters-4|access-date=2020-11-21|website=[[Eurogamer]]|language=en}}</ref></blockquote>The poor reception for Free Radical's previous game, ''Haze'', was cited as one of the main reasons for the lack of publisher interest, alongside the lack of marketability for "a game that is based around a diverse set of characters and environments."<ref name=":1" />

On June 14, 2011, the website VideoGamer.com, citing "a high-ranking industry source at Crytek," revealed that the company was working on a new ''TimeSplitters'' game, to be released on "the next generation of consoles" (the successors to the [[Xbox 360]] and PlayStation 3). The game was expected to utilize [[CryEngine 3]] and [[DirectX]] 11 technology.<ref>{{cite web|last=Gaston|first=Martin|date=2011-06-14|title=Xbox 720 'likely' at E3 2012, Crytek on board|url=http://www.videogamer.com/news/xbox_720_likely_at_e3_2012_crytek_on_board_2.html|access-date=June 14, 2011|website=VideoGamer.com}}</ref> In 2012, Crytek CEO Cevat Yerli expressed desire to work on the project, but also noted concern about its possible reception. He mentioned that [[crowdfunding]] a sequel had been suggested to him, but deemed doing so to be inappropriate for a larger company such as Crytek.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.computerandvideogames.com/353240/crytek-ceo-weighs-options-for-timesplitters-4/|title=29 PlayStation 4 mockups|first=Greg|last=Henninger|date=February 14, 2013|work=GamesRadar+}}</ref> Yerli's comments about a possible crowdfunding campaign prompted a [[petition]] to encourage such a venture, which Yerli himself endorsed; however, as of February 2014, the petition's page had reached only approximately half of the desired 100,000 supporters.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.egmnow.com/articles/news/kickstarter-petition-started-for-timesplitters-4/|title=Kickstarter Petition Started for TimeSplitters 4|work=EGMNOW.com|access-date=February 18, 2014|archive-date=December 12, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151212093032/http://www.egmnow.com/articles/news/kickstarter-petition-started-for-timesplitters-4/|url-status=dead}}</ref>

On April 27, 2012, a spokesperson from Crytek confirmed that ''TimeSplitters 4'' was "not in development",<ref>{{Cite web|last=Mitchell|first=Richard|date=2012-04-27|title=Crytek: TimeSplitters 4 is not in development|url=https://www.engadget.com/2012-04-27-crytek-timesplitters-4-is-not-in-development.html|access-date=2020-11-25|website=[[Engadget]]|language=en}}</ref> and in June 2012, Yerli stated that:<blockquote>"Look, I wish we were working on it. The thing with ''TimeSplitters'' is, if we made a sequel to ''TimeSplitters'', nobody would accept this apart from some fans, and we don't know how big the fan community is unfortunately."<ref>{{cite web|date=2012-06-11|title=Crytek CEO weighs options for TimeSplitters 4|url=http://www.computerandvideogames.com/353240/crytek-ceo-weighs-options-for-timesplitters-4|website=[[Computer and Video Games]]}}</ref></blockquote>In July 2013, [[TechRadar]] spoke to Ellis who, when asked if ''TimeSplitters 4'' would ever be released on [[Eighth generation of video game consoles|8th generation consoles]] (such as [[PlayStation 4]] and [[Xbox One]]), replied with a statement suggesting it was highly unlikely:<blockquote>"I don't think there's any chance that's going to happen, you always got to the point where the marketing person in the room would say 'I don't know how to sell this' because they want a character that they can put on the front of the box. Every marketing person and every publisher we spoke to [said] 'You can't have that as your selling point' and maybe the sales figures of previous games backed that up."<ref>{{cite web|author=Langley|first=Hugh|date=2013-07-18|title=No chance of TimeSplitters 4 on Xbox One or PS4|url=http://www.techradar.com/news/gaming/timesplitters-developer-no-chance-of-timesplitters-4-on-xbox-one-or-ps4-1166815|work=[[TechRadar]]}}</ref></blockquote>This prediction was made more concrete by the shutdown of Crytek UK in 2014, with the majority of the company's staff moving to [[Deep Silver]]'s [[Dambuster Studios]].<ref name=":33">{{Cite web|last=Hood|first=Vic|date=2019-08-14|title=TimeSplitters is coming back for another round of multiplayer madness|url=https://www.techradar.com/news/timesplitters-is-coming-back-for-another-round-of-multiplayer-madness|access-date=2020-11-21|website=[[TechRadar]]|language=en}}</ref>

In April 2018, a collection of previously unrevealed concept art for the game was made available on [[Reddit]], showing characters from multiple time periods and locations, including Ancient Greece and 1950s United States.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Phillips|first=Tom|date=2018-04-18|title=Concept art for cancelled TimeSplitters 4 shows never-before-seen characters|url=https://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2018-04-18-cancelled-timesplitters-4-concept-art-shows-never-before-seen-characters|access-date=2020-11-21|website=[[Eurogamer]]|language=en}}</ref>