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Deep Silver announced a new TimeSplitters game in 2021 and reformed Free Radical Design to work on it, with original series figures Steve Ellis and David Doak among the key members. The game never reached a confirmed release: Free Radical Design closed in 2023, and although the project appears to have ended with the studio, no standalone official cancellation announcement has been located. Embracer’s 2026 statement leaves open the possibility of an outside partnership around the franchise, but it does not announce a new game.
What Deep Silver announced in 2021
On May 20, 2021, Embracer Group said it was reforming Free Radical Design in Nottingham as a Deep Silver studio, with the aim of bringing TimeSplitters back. Steve Ellis and David Doak, founders and key members of the original development team, were named as part of the effort. Embracer’s announcement established a plan for a new game, not a completed production or a release commitment.
| # | Preview | Product | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
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Time Splitters: Future Perfect - Xbox | $24.01 | Buy on Amazon |
| 2 |
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TimeSplitters: Future Perfect | $23.88 | Buy on Amazon |
| 3 |
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TimeSplitters: Future Perfect | $73.99 | Buy on Amazon |
| 4 |
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TimeSplitters 2 | $22.49 | Buy on Amazon |
| 5 |
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TIMESPLITTERS 2 - XBOX | $12.31 | Buy on Amazon |
At the time, the game’s format had not been made public. Contemporary GameSpot coverage reported that development had not yet begun. Neither a release date nor details such as platforms or gameplay were confirmed in the announcement. NME’s coverage also reported the studio’s reformation and the franchise’s planned return.
What happened to the reboot?
Free Radical Design closed in 2023. Embracer’s June 13 restructuring letter described the possibility of studio closures and projects being terminated or paused, but it did not name TimeSplitters specifically. A later report described the reboot as a project of the now-closed studio; that supports the conclusion that the studio-led plan appears to have ended, but it is not the same as a formal, game-specific cancellation notice.
#1 Best Overall
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The closure is also described on the TimeSplitters Rewind project history, a fan project source. Rock Paper Shotgun’s March 2024 report likewise discussed the studio’s demise and the franchise’s uncertain prospects. Embracer’s original June 2023 restructuring letter provides corporate context, not confirmation that the publisher cancelled this specific game.
Does Embracer still plan to bring the series back?
In a 2026 chair statement, Embracer named TimeSplitters among the intellectual properties for which it may explore external partnerships. That leaves open a possible route involving another company, but it confirms no partner, licensing deal, game, development restart or release window. The statement is a signal of potential rather than an announcement of a revival. Read Embracer’s chair statement.
Rank #2
What can fans play or buy now?
The substantiated path to the series is its original trilogy. When THQ Nordic announced the acquisition of the TimeSplitters intellectual property in 2018, it described the franchise as a three-game series created by Free Radical Design. That acquisition announcement confirms the trilogy’s existence, but does not establish what editions are currently available or in stock. For physical copies, search for “TimeSplitters trilogy games” and check the specific game, platform, disc condition and seller before buying.
Quick Recap
Best Value
- TIMESPLITTERS 2 - XBOX
Rank #4
Rank #3
- Featuring a story mode with co-op, arcade and challenges mode and a split screen multiplayer and online mode
- Improved mapmaker interface makes it easier to create multi-player maps and share and play them online
- Innovative new meet and assist yourself lets players team up with past and future selves, to be their own backup
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
