Releasing an official statement, Trion Sr. Director of Global Communications Katie Uhlman has confirmed that Trion Worlds will be closing its San Diego studio. This studio was responsible for the developement of Defiance, the MMO-shooter tied to the Syfy TV show.
We can confirm that the San Diego studio will be closing. The day to day operations of Defiance will be moved to our Redwood City studio where it can be managed alongside Rift and our other in development titles including ArcheAge and End of Nations. As part of this transition, we are working hard to ensure that a number of great people will be making the move from San Diego to the Bay Area and continue their work at Trion.
This was in response to the leaked news today posted earlier on PC Gamer that the studio would be closing.
This news coincides, intentionally or unintentionally, with the return of Scott Hartsman to Trion Worlds as it’s CEO. Gamasutra reported that Hartsman sent a company wide email saying:
“We’re going to rapidly be laying the groundwork for a new strategy at Trion — one that is closer to the foundation of how we’ve had our wins so far, and then extending that base into the enduring success this company can, and will, be.”
As part of this movement, several members of the community team, as well as members of the development team management, were let go. No details have been release about the rest of the team in San Diego, or about how many will be moving to San Fransisco.
I have accepted a job @EA and will be working on @Titanfallgame! I have much love for the @Defiance community, thank you for everything!
— Mathew Everett (@sledgehammer70) August 8, 2013
Check out Defiance Reporter for more news as it develops.
