Report: Layoffs Hit Raven Software, Focusing on DLC

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Shacknews has received information that 20 to 40 employees have been let go from Raven Software, which most recently released Singularity. The studio is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Activision Blizzard.

Raven had layoffs in August 2009 after the completion of X-Men Origins: Wolverine and Wolftenstein, explaining that the studio had "slightly [reduced] its workforce to better reflect the studio's upcoming slate."

Activision has issued the following statement: "With the recent completion of Singularity, Raven Software is realigning its workforce to better reflect the studio’s upcoming slate." Raven Software does not currently have a game announced, but it was rumored in May that the studio was being tasked with working on Call of Duty: Black Ops map packs for DLC.

Kotaku's source claims that the studio will be focusing on downloadable content and has been reduced to a single team. It's doubtful that Raven will be making DLC for any of its previous titles at this point.

It is easy to speculate what is going on within Activision's Call of Duty division, but there are just too many possibilities following the collapse of Infinity Ward. Presumably, Modern Warfare 3 would have been released in fall 2011, but the status of that project is unclear.

Looking at the information here, it is possible that Treyarch would be tasked with assisting on the completion of Modern Warfare 3 with what remains of Infinity Ward, while Raven Software handles post-release DLC for Black Ops. Activision probably doesn't want to miss a holiday season without a new Call of Duty on store shelves.

From The Chatty
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    October 11, 2010 10:34 AM

    About time, not to be rude but seriously the last three games they have put out have been so so. They ruined Quake 4, Wolfenstein, and Singularity was just ok. 2 cents deposited...

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      October 11, 2010 10:41 AM

      Quake 4 felt like a revamped quake3, just not as fun.

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        October 11, 2010 10:59 AM

        I'm more of a singleplayer fan so I liked quake 4 better then quake 3.

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          October 11, 2010 11:40 AM

          Agreed - I find a comment like "Quake 4 felt like a revamped Quake 3" confusing because Q3 didn't really have a singleplayer component to speak of. Q4 did, and a fairly engaging one at that - one of the more enjoyable games I've played.

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            October 11, 2010 12:01 PM

            *SPOILER* I still remember the scene when your main character gets captured and your traveling through the base strapped to a table getting all cut up and transformed into a Strogg. Definitely one of those "holy shit" moments in a game that I will never forget.

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              October 11, 2010 2:11 PM

              which they spoiled in every Hands On coverage they'd get

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      October 11, 2010 11:15 AM

      That's true, and none of their other games looks all that fun, but I'm kinda bored of Star Wars/Trek and Marvel games.

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      October 11, 2010 12:03 PM

      I thought Q4 was very well executed but just couldn't do any better - the SP mode was well done but old, and for MP, the market didn't want DM anymore + hardcore Q3 players would complain regardless.

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      October 11, 2010 2:25 PM

      Loved the Quake 4 SP, good old style FPS gameplay but wish they had more Q2 look a like weapons. The rifle in Q4 just looked crap.

      The MP was poorly executed, they made it much better in later patches but too little too late. IMO they should have recreated Q2 DM/CTF instead as Q3 was never going to be replaced with that.

      Wolfenstein SP was good but the MP was pure and epic fail on a unprecedented scale.

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        October 11, 2010 3:14 PM

        Wolfenstein's MP was the product of Endrant Studios, who laid off a number of staff once Wolfenstein released: http://www.shacknews.com/onearticle.x/60047

        I think they closed down sometime after that; their website as linked from GiantBomb and MobyGames goes to a GoDaddy domain squatting search page.

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