Earlier this year, it was reported that NetEase may shut down a dozen foreign-funded or owned studios and divest its overseas portfolio. Bad Brain Game Studios is the ninth studio to be impacted by that restructuring that has seen funding from the Chinese gaming giant dry up.
“It’s with a heavy heart that we share that Bad Brain Game Studios will be closing its doors,” read an update provided by Sean Crooks, the studio head. “Our last official day of operation will be on November 17th.”
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“Despite our continuing efforts to seek a new partner for the project, a path forward has yet to materialize. We are deeply grateful to NetEase Games for their support and for giving us runway to explore every possible opportunity. Our team poured everything into this journey — pushing creative and technical boundaries every day with passion, imagination, and craft. What we achieved together stands as lasting proof of this team’s extraordinary talent.”
While Crooks said that this was not the outcome they anticipated, he expressed delight in the team’s creativity and dedication, as well as the enthusiasm the game they were working on, codenamed Midnight Riders, had generated.
“As we close this chapter, the game and its underlying IP is still available for acquisition or partnership, and we/NetEase are open to discussions with publishers or studios who see potential in continuing its development. We believe strongly in what was created, and would love to see this world find its way to players.”
A breakdown of the state of NetEase’s portfolio status
NetEase either owns or funds around two dozen game studios. The list below (in alphabetical order) shows their portfolio and those that have already been shuttered or are in the process of doing so, unless they find new funding partners.
- Anchor Point Studios (unaffected)
- Bad Brain Game Studios (November 17 closure date announced)
- BulletFarm
- Fantastic Pixel Castle (November 17 closure announced)
- GPTRACK50 Studio
- Grasshopper
- Jackalyptic Games
- Jar of Sparks (closed)
- Liquid Swords (closed)
- Nagoshi Studio (closed)
- NetEase Games Montreal
- NetEase Games North America
- NetEase Seattle (closed)
- Ouka Studios (closed)
- Pincool
- PlayPulse
- Quantic Dream (unaffected)
- Rebel Wolves
- Skybox Labs
- Spliced
- Studio Flare
- T-Minus Zero Entertainment (Resurrected)
- Untold Worlds (closed)
When the news broke earlier this year, two studios—Anchor Point and Quantic Dreams—publicly announced that the potential restructuring at NetEase would not impact them. NetEase eventually reacted to the news, but it was not what gamers hoped to hear.
Bad Brain Game Studios devs react to studio closure
Several developers working at Bad Brain Game Studios have posted about the studio closure and how they have been impacted. Some are already seeking the support of their connections to land new roles.
“Bad Brain Game Studios is closing, and it’s sad because I really believe in what we are building and I absolutely loved working with this amazing team” wrote senior game designer Pablo Calatayud Tapia. “I’m very proud of The Midnight Riders and happy that we can show it in this Sizzle Reel.”
Game director and founder Danny Belanger put out his portfolio, saying, “Hi everyone! Bad Brain Studios is sadly closing and I’m exploring new roles and would appreciate your support.”
“I’m sad to share that Bad Brain Game Studios will be closing its doors,” wrote art director Manuel Vallelunga. “It’s been an honor to work with such a talented, passionate, and fun team!”
“Midnight Riders was shaping up to be that dream ’80s kids-on-bikes game everyone is dreaming of playing these days. While this chapter is ending, the creativity, weird ideas, and bold energy that defined Bad Brain will live on through the incredible team who brought it to life as they carry that same creative spark into everything they do next.”
Bad Brain Game Studios was founded in 2023 and has its headquarters in Toronto and Montreal. Midnight Riders was described as an open-world, story-driven action-adventure inspired by blockbuster cinema and paranormal thriller novels of the 1980s. The game was being developed in Unreal Engine 5.
After seeing the sizzle reel of Midnight Riders, do you think it is a game that should be rescued? Share your thoughts in the comment box below.
