Crytek buys Free Radical

Things have gone a bit pear-shaped lately for the Nottingham-based developer of Timesplitters and Haze, Free Radical Design - but according to game scriptwriter and one-time bit-tech.net columnist Rob Yescombe, the company may finally be out of the woods after being bought by Crytek.

Speaking to 1-UP.com the Haze writer confirmed that Crytek had bought the company for an undisclosed amount.

The news couldn't have come too soon either, with the UK developer having to shut up shop in December and staff turning up to work to find the offices locked one morning.

What made the news all the more shocking was that not only did the closure of Free Radical Design see a confirmation of the rumours that the company was working on Star Wars Battlefront III, but that a fourth Timeplitters game was also in the works.

While Yescombe hasn't given on any details on what this buy might mean for the company and whether we'll see Free Radical's irreverent humour start to work itself into the Crysis games or not, we're sure that an announcement is forthcoming. One thing we do know for sure though is that Lucasarts has reclaimed the Star Wars Battlefront III license and that Free Radical is now longer working on the title.

Whether Timesplitters 4 or Haze 2 are on the cards though still remain to be seen - would you buy either? Let us know your thoughts in the forums.