TimeSplitters, Second Sight IPs Acquired by Koch Media
Koch Media, a subsidiary of THQ Nordic, announced via Twitter that it has obtained the rights to the TimeSplitters and Second Sight IPs.
It is with great pleasure that we today announce the acquisition of the cherished video games series Timesplitters and Second Sight. Full details will be revealed in due course.
— Koch Media UK (@KochMediaUK) August 15, 2018
Publishers usually don’t buy an IP unless they have major plans for it, so it’s safe to assume that we’ll see something new from both franchises in the future. Whether we get remasters or brand new games in either series remains to be seen.
Second Sight was a neat third-person sci-fi shooter with psychological elements. FPS fans, though, will likely be more excited about a possible return of the TimeSplitters series, which saw three entries released from 2000-2005. The second game in the series, which launched on PS2, Xbox, and GameCube, was especially revered for its fast-paced multiplayer gameplay and map creation features. In a statement to IGN regarding the acquisition, Koch CEO Klemens Kundratitz makes it seem like a new TimeSplitters release is coming:
We have many fans of the Timesplitters series among our own staff who are passionate about creating a product that will thrill today’s gaming audience.
German developer Crytek was the previous owner of both IPs. It obtained them when it purchased Free Radical, the studio behind both series, in 2009. Neither property saw a new release during Crytek’s ownership, however.
It’s also worth nothing that Koch Media operates Deep Silver, which in turn holds Dambuster Studios as a subsidiary. Dambuster employs many ex-Free Radical employees, many of whom worked on the TimeSplitters franchise.
Kyle Flory
Kyle is a lifelong gamer and writer who studied English at Cal State San Bernardino. He has been a PlayStation fan since the release of Sony's original console and puts most of his game time in on his PS5. He loves Metal Gear Solid, and is currently working on getting platinum trophies for every game in the series.
