Take-Two Is Quietly Killing Private Division
In recent weeks, reports have surfaced that Take-Two is shuttering Kerbal Space Program 2 developer Intercept Games and OlliOlli World developer Roll7. Now, IGN has learned that not only are these closures imminent, but they are a part of a larger move by Take-Two to either sell off or shut down the entirety of its indie label, Private Division.
Earlier this month, Take-Two CEO Strauss Zelnick told IGN that Take-Two "didn't shutter" its owned indie studios Intercept Games and Roll7. At the time, that was technically true; both studios are currently operational, but they won't be for long. Speaking to multiple anonymous sources familiar with the matter, IGN has independently confirmed that Intercept Games is set to close on June 28, following a notice period required by the Washington State WARN Act. Roll7, too, is similarly winding down, though a small team remains to tie up loose ends.
Meanwhile, Take-Two wants to offload Private Division, one way or another. In February, IGN understands employees were told layoffs were imminent, but not given specifics on how many, why, or what was happening. Then, at the end of April, employees of the label were told by management that Take-Two would no longer support Private Division, at which time almost all the staff were laid off.
A small crew remains to support the remaining announced games with which Private Division has publishing deals: Moon Studios' No Rest for the Wicked (which is currently in early access), Wētā Workshop's Tales of the Shire, and an untitled project from Game Freak. Take-Two has backed out of two other publishing deals it had previously agreed to under the label - one previously reported deal with Bloober Team, and another sources described to us that would have been with Ghostrunner developer One More Level.
Though Private Division and its associated studios appear in danger of vanishing entirely, Take-Two is looking for other options...albeit with mixed success. The publisher has been in talks to find a
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