Editing TimeSplitters (section)

==== ''TimeSplitters 2'' HD remake ====
During an interview in 2012 about their mobile game studio, [[Crash Lab]], former Free Radical team members Steve Ellis, Martin Wakeley and Lee Musgrave confirmed that an HD version of ''TimeSplitters 2'' had been in development as a downloadable product during 2008; however, the product was never released before Free Radical shut down.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Phillips|first=Tom|date=2012-10-02|title=TimeSplitters 2 HD was in development at Free Radical Design|url=https://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2012-10-02-timesplitters-2-hd-was-in-development-at-free-radical-design|access-date=2020-11-24|website=[[Eurogamer]]|language=en}}</ref> Ellis expressed a desire to see the HD version released eventually, opining that "it could be the catalyst that is required in order to raise enough interest in ''TimeSplitters 4'' that a publisher might want to fund it."<ref>{{Cite web|last=Devore|first=Jordan|date=2012-10-02|title=Sad face: TimeSplitters 2 HD was being worked on in 2008|url=https://www.destructoid.com/stories/sad-face-timesplitters-2-hd-was-being-worked-on-in-2008-236003.phtml|access-date=2020-11-25|website=[[Destructoid]]|language=en}}</ref>

As an [[Easter egg (media)|easter egg]] within ''[[Homefront: The Revolution]]'', developed by Dambuster Studios and released by Deep Silver in 2016, players could use an in-game [[Arcade cabinet|arcade machine]] to play the first two levels of ''TimeSplitters 2'', remade in high-definition.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Phillips|first=Tom|date=2016-03-30|title=You can play TimeSplitters 2's first two levels in Homefront: The Revolution|url=https://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2016-03-30-you-can-play-timesplitters-2s-first-two-levels-in-homefront-the-revolution|access-date=2021-04-06|website=[[Eurogamer]]|language=en}}</ref> During 2021 interviews, developer Matt Phillips revealed that the game actually contained a full [[4K resolution]] remake of the game.<ref name=":26" /> The unlock code required to access the full version, including multiplayer features, if the arcade machine were moved to a different map, had since been lost by Phillips:<ref name=":26">{{Cite web|last=Skrebels|first=Joe|date=2021-04-06|title=TimeSplitters 2 4K Port Hidden Inside Homefront: The Revolution... But the Unlock Code Is Lost|url=https://www.ign.com/articles/timesplitters-2-4k-port-hidden-inside-homefront-the-revolution-but-the-unlock-code-is-lost|access-date=2021-04-06|website=[[IGN]]}}</ref> however, he had given it previously to a friend to "leak" in a [[Discord (software)|Discord]] channel, which the friend had been banned for from the channel,<ref name=":26" /><ref name=":27">{{Cite web|last=Good|first=Owen S.|date=2021-04-09|title=TimeSplitters 2's 4K port has been locked inside the Homefront sequel for years|url=https://www.polygon.com/22375774/timesplitters-2-homefront-the-revolution-easter-egg-cheat-code-unlock-how-to|access-date=2021-04-11|website=[[Polygon (website)|Polygon]]|language=en}}</ref> thereby allowing Xbox principal software engineer Spencer Perreault to obtain the code several days after the interview and share it on [[Twitter]].<ref name=":27" /> An insider source later confirmed to [[Eurogamer]] that the unlock codes were from the original game likely for testing or press versions and that the easter egg had only ever been intended to cover the first two levels; however, the fastest way to include those levels was to include the full story mode, with a "soft-lock" in place.<ref name=":28">{{Cite web|last=Phillips|first=Tom|date=2021-04-12|title=Homefront developer only discovered hidden TimeSplitters 2 codes after game shipped|url=https://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2021-04-12-homefronts-hidden-timesplitters-2-codes-date-back-to-the-original-source|access-date=2021-04-14|website=[[Eurogamer]]|language=en}}</ref> Dambuster only realised there was a way to unlock the full game after ''Homefront'' shipped.<ref name=":28" />

In another easter egg, this time within the November 2020 "Fallen God" expansion for ''[[SpellForce 3]]'', published by [[THQ Nordic]], whose parent company, the [[Embracer Group]], acquired the rights to ''TimeSplitters'' in 2018, players found an item for sale by an in-game vendor named "''TimeSplitters 2'' Remake."<ref>{{Cite web|last=Good|first=Owen S.|date=2020-11-16|title=TimeSplitters 2 Remake not happening, THQ Nordic says|url=https://www.polygon.com/2020/11/16/21569692/timesplitters-2-remake-easter-egg-spellforce-3-joke-not-confirmed-thq-nordic-pc|access-date=2020-11-26|website=[[Polygon (website)|Polygon]]|language=en}}</ref> The item contained the following in-game blurb:<blockquote>"It's finally coming! The iconic shooter, which has stood the test of time to join the era of modern games."<ref>{{Cite web|last=Harradence|first=Michael|date=2020-11-16|title=[UPDATE]TimeSplitters 2 Remake Reportedly Teased By THQ Nordic Via SpellForce 3 Item|url=https://www.psu.com/news/timesplitters-2-remake-reportedly-teased-by-thq-nordic-via-spellforce-3-item/|access-date=2020-11-26|website=PlayStation Universe|language=en-US}}</ref></blockquote>This led to speculation that the company were planning to release this remake as a genuine product; however, a spokesperson for THQ Nordic confirmed that the item was "just an innocent Easter egg" and the vendor was "a character known especially for not telling the truth."<ref>{{Cite web|last=Moyse|first=Chris|date=2020-11-16|title=SpellForce 'TimeSplitters 2 remake' reference is just a joke, says THQ Nordic|url=https://www.destructoid.com/stories/spellforce-timesplitters-2-remake-reference-is-just-a-joke-says-thq-nordic-610367.phtml|access-date=2020-11-26|website=[[Destructoid]]|language=en}}</ref> A subsequent statement from THQ stated that:<blockquote>"The intention behind those easter eggs was pure fun. When Koch Media and Deep Silver are ready to talk about ''TimeSplitters'', they will make sure to get heard."<ref name=":21">{{Cite web|last=Beckwith|first=Michael|date=2020-11-16|title=Timesplitters 2 remake teased by THQ in Spellforce 3 expansion|url=https://metro.co.uk/2020/11/16/timesplitters-2-remake-unambiguously-referenced-in-spellforce-3-13601534/|access-date=2020-11-22|website=Metro|language=en}}</ref></blockquote>