Lucasfilm Ceases Video Game Development By Closing Down LucasArts

Lucasfilm Ceases Video Game Development By Closing Down LucasArts

Sad news for video game fans who have enjoyed the various LucasArts releases over the years as it has today been announced that parent company Lucasfilm (now owned by Disney) will be closing down the studio, putting the fate of titles like Star Wars 1313 in doubt.

News
By JoshWilding - Apr 03, 2013 12:04 PM EST
Filed Under: Video Games
Source: Variety


Variety reports that Lucasfilm will no longer continue to create video games through LucasArts as they lay off all of their game development and support staff (keeping only a small team to handle licensed products such as Lego Star Wars). This means that up to 150 people may have found themselves unemployed. "After evaluating our position in the games market, we’ve decided to shift LucasArts from an internal development to a licensing model, minimizing the company’s risk while achieving a broader portfolio of quality ‘Star Wars’ games," LucasArts said in a statement released today. "As a result of this change, we’ve had layoffs across the organization. We are incredibly appreciative and proud of the talented teams who have been developing our new titles." This leaves the fate of Star Wars 1313 in doubt, while the recently announced Star Wars: First Assault has been scrapped altogether. Between this and the cancellation of Star Wars: The Clone Wars, are you beginning to wish that Disney had left Lucasfilm well alone?

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95
95 - 4/3/2013, 12:17 PM
"NOOOO!"
- Darth Vader
marvel72
marvel72 - 4/3/2013, 12:22 PM
at least we're getting more star wars films,as for clone wars it ran its course.

we need animated shows set after return of the jedi.
JDUKE25
JDUKE25 - 4/3/2013, 12:26 PM
Well crap. I was looking forward to 1313
lntrn8
lntrn8 - 4/3/2013, 12:28 PM
LucasArts came up with some great games!
RidiculousFanBoyDemands
RidiculousFanBoyDemands - 4/3/2013, 12:31 PM
Well that's what you get for making increasingly shitty Star Wars games after KOTR and KOTR II. Stop making Battlefront games (the best selling of the Star Wars games), and decide to put all your eggs in the lego star wars, and mmorpg basket. Seriously, this piss's me off, because for a short time there from 2003-2005 it really seemed like Lucas and his team got their heads out of their asses when it came to video games and started making some really great and innovative titles. Oh well. Hopefully Disney sells the rights to Rockstar and we can get some incredible open world Star Wars games.
ndwwrestler2
ndwwrestler2 - 4/3/2013, 12:32 PM
This isn't funny guys. April fools was two days ago.


Wait you mean...it can't be...FFFFFFFFFFFFUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUU
jerryblake
jerryblake - 4/3/2013, 12:33 PM
Indiana Jones and the fate of Atlantis ...
Grim Fandango ...
Star Wars: Episode I The Phantom Menace
Monkey Island 3
Those where some really cool games
RidiculousFanBoyDemands
RidiculousFanBoyDemands - 4/3/2013, 12:35 PM
And don't me started on that God awful kinect Star Wars games. Seriously I understand wanting to make your product suitable for children, but that doesn't mean that every product you make needs to dumb itself down.
GreenLanternRulez
GreenLanternRulez - 4/3/2013, 12:35 PM
Just another reason I Hate this merger
Gmoney84
Gmoney84 - 4/3/2013, 12:41 PM
We need a remake of Shadows of the Empire. That game was hot.
PeterParker1991
PeterParker1991 - 4/3/2013, 12:42 PM
"Alright, where is that mouse? Where is he??" *grabs MP5*
Gmoney84
Gmoney84 - 4/3/2013, 12:42 PM
In truth LucasArts has sucked for the past few years with only a hand full of decent titles.
HanBurgundy
HanBurgundy - 4/3/2013, 12:47 PM
This isn't necessarily a bad thing. While I have very much enjoyed dozens of Lucasarts games over the years, many of which I grew up on, one has to admit that the quality of Star Wars games have hardly been the top tier of the industry. I'm not saying that they didn't make some fantastic games....because they absolutely did....but the quality of the product very often felt limited by there own design. Therefore, closing down Lucasarts and reaching out to truly great game developers, like Bungie, 343 Industries or any of the numerous, top rated development companies could produce better results than we've ever had with a Star Wars game.
TrollHunter
TrollHunter - 4/3/2013, 12:51 PM
I don't get it. Why can't Disney leave LucasFilm alone like they've left Marvel alone? First The Clone Wars, now this.
StarkAnthony
StarkAnthony - 4/3/2013, 12:58 PM
This deal is getting worse all the time
Wingding
Wingding - 4/3/2013, 1:03 PM
:O
DefcoN
DefcoN - 4/3/2013, 1:12 PM
Sad news indeed. Lucas Arts brought games I'll probably remember for the rest of my life, like The Monkey Island Series and Grim Fandango. That's my childhood right there.
GrayFox1025
GrayFox1025 - 4/3/2013, 1:13 PM
"...Minimizing the company’s risk" How about you stop making disgustingly bad games such as, oh I don't know, Kinect Star Wars!

All they needed to do was release Battlefront 3 and they would have make shit tons of money, but alas, I guess Lucasarts just doesn't want the fans' money anymore.
TheAbomination
TheAbomination - 4/3/2013, 1:26 PM
It's a safe bet that we're not getting Battlefront 3. Fvck you, Disney.
cyclopstb
cyclopstb - 4/3/2013, 1:28 PM
NO FORCE UNLEASHED THREEQUEL ?

NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO !
jerryblake
jerryblake - 4/3/2013, 1:32 PM
@Gusto

lol ... that's how i felt
ndwwrestler2
ndwwrestler2 - 4/3/2013, 1:34 PM
Well...they said Lucasfilm/Arts wouldn't be creating video games, but that doesn't mean other companies can't.

So this could be a good thing.
DKKC01
DKKC01 - 4/3/2013, 1:38 PM
I just don't understand why they won't make battlefront III and take all of my money and free time. for Gods sake they made a Euro tractor trailer have game, twice! give me another battlefront!!
marvel72
marvel72 - 4/3/2013, 1:56 PM
spider-man the animated series
spectacular spider-man
x-men the animated series
x-men evolution
wolverine & the x-men
the avengers earths mightiest heroes
silver surfer

were all good animated shows,well i enjoyed them.
DetBullock
DetBullock - 4/3/2013, 2:04 PM
They pulled the plug on an irreversably comatose patient as SupspenseSmith has pointed out.
I just hope that Disney will license the brand to some good game developers.
NoAssemblyReqd
NoAssemblyReqd - 4/3/2013, 2:05 PM
I haven't played a good STAR WARS game in over 6 years. I have no idea why they stopped making more DARK FORCES / JEDI KNIGHT games. BATTLEFRONT was good too.

I think the high concept but poorly executed FORCE UNLEASHED games helped do the company in.
NoAssemblyReqd
NoAssemblyReqd - 4/3/2013, 2:12 PM
I wished LucasArts would return to the land of GRIM FANDANGO. That was a fun game.
Kyos
Kyos - 4/3/2013, 2:15 PM
I honestly don't care about most Star Wars games, but the old Point&Click adventures were a huge part of my childhood and my introduction to gaming in general.
fortycals
fortycals - 4/3/2013, 2:42 PM
Could be good or bad. Companies could blow their wad on licensing, and come out with a crap game. The bigger companies could make a really good game. It was like lucas arts was scared of halo and never took the spot it should have taken. Maybe another company wont be so hesitant.
GarthRanzz
GarthRanzz - 4/3/2013, 3:02 PM
Honestly we had a better chance of a future star wars game that was good than we do of having a good star wars movie.
TheManFromMars
TheManFromMars - 4/3/2013, 3:12 PM
NOOOOOO!


Wait...

I don't care.
JoshBerger
JoshBerger - 4/3/2013, 3:24 PM
^LOL cared enough to comment.
This news was predictable though, so not surprised...but that doesn't mean this doesn't suck, I really want FU3 and a new Rogue Squadron...been waiting almost 10 years for one of those.
SupLezz
SupLezz - 4/3/2013, 4:30 PM
Lucasarts were only publishing games nowadays (except 1313)... and Disney can do that itself so that's why they closed it down. This doesn't necessary mean they cancel the games too imo.
ChiliConCarney
ChiliConCarney - 4/3/2013, 4:38 PM
Lest we forget...



Then again, you youngin's wouldn't know a point and click adventure game if it came up and broke your Blackberry.
CorronZenith30
CorronZenith30 - 4/3/2013, 5:09 PM
Crud!! Kinda angry at this...
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