TimeSplitters co-creator joins THQ Nordic to “help plot the future course of the franchise”

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Co-creator Steve Ellis is returning to help revive the TimeSplitters series

TimeSplitters
(Image credit: Free Radical Design)

A new TimeSplitters game is officially in the works, and THQ Nordic has revealed that one of the original creators Steve Ellis has joined Deep Silver to “help plot the future course of the franchise.” Nordic acquired the rights to create a new TimeSplitters IP back in 2018, with Deep Silver taking on the project. Since then, news about a potential TimeSplitters 4 has gone pretty quiet. 

Word about the co-creators involvement in the upcoming TimeSplitters title came to light in THQ Nordic’s latest financial report, which also revealed a new Saints Row game is happening, and Dead Island 2 is fact still on the way with studio Dambuster now at the helm. Ellis was part of Rare back in the 90’s, working on games such as Golden Eye 007 and Perfect Dark before leaving to help form Free Radical Design. The newly formed studio released the first TimeSplitters back in 2000 on the PlayStation 2, with TimeSplitters 2 and the third instalment TimeSplitters: Future Perfect landing on the PS2, Xbox and Gamecube in the years that followed. 

Since Future Perfect came out back in 2005, fans have long been hoping for another round of its particular blend of zany shooting action. With its cartoony style, brilliant arcade modes and map maker features - along with plenty of monkey business - word about another potential sequel has been floating around since 2007. The financial report doesn’t state what Ellis’ official role is or when we can expect to see TimeSplitters make comeback, but bringing one of the original creators on board is enough to get us even more excited about its eventual return. 

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Heather Wald
Heather Wald
Evergreen Editor, Games

Heather Wald is the Evergreen Editor, Games at GamesRadar+. Her writing career began on a student-led magazine at Bath Spa University, where she earned a BA (Hons) in English literature. Heather landed her first role writing about tech and games for Stuff Magazine shortly after graduating with an MA in magazine journalism at Cardiff University. Now with almost seven years of experience working with GamesRadar+ on the features team, Heather helps to develop, maintain, and expand the evergreen features that exist on the site for games, as well as spearhead the Indie Spotlight series. You'll also see her contribute op-eds, interview-led features, and more. In her spare time, you'll likely find Heather tucking into RPGs and indie games, reading romance novels, and drinking lots of tea.