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GRIN shuts down photo

GRIN’s situation was as dire as recent reports indicated. Following several office closures and heavy layoffs, GRIN announced that the studio is no more. In a somber message on its official Web site, founders Ulf and Bo Andersson cite delayed publisher payments as the reason for its closing.

“It is with a heavy heart we announce today that GRIN has been forced to close its doors,” the posting reads. “This as too many publishers have been delaying their payments, causing an unbearable cashflow situation.”

“After twelve years of hard work, employing hundreds of wonderfully talented men and women, it is over. It has been a great adventure and the GRIN family has experienced what few have.”

The studio experienced a meteoric rise and fall, penning several deals with publishers after proving themselves with two successful PC ports of Ghost Recon Advanced Warfighter. The last two games from the studio were Bionic Commando and Terminator Salvation.  

[via Giantbomb]


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41 comments | showing # 1 to 41

Char Aznable's Avatar - Comment posted on 08/12/2009 15:51
Char Aznable
Damn, bummer. They seemed like cool guys, despite the Swedish salt candy they handed out on the Bombcast.
JohnnyMavric's Avatar - Comment posted on 08/12/2009 15:52
JohnnyMavric
R.I.P. GRIN. We will miss you.
Holyetheline's Avatar - Comment posted on 08/12/2009 15:53
Holyetheline
Bionic Commando and Terminator Salvation <--------------- That's their problem.
Naim Master's Avatar - Comment posted on 08/12/2009 15:56
Naim Master
Can't say I'll miss their SP-only TPSs...
Professor Pew's Avatar - Comment posted on 08/12/2009 15:58
Professor Pew
Will not miss them one bit. Their last two games were so goddamn awful!
Patters's Avatar - Comment posted on 08/12/2009 15:58
Patters
It's always a sad day when a developer goes down.
Jack Maverick's Avatar - Comment posted on 08/12/2009 16:00
Jack Maverick
It's strange how nearly every piece of news regarding the company or their games was always bad news. I never actually expected them to close down so soon. This leaves me with a weird feeling.
Pyroph's Avatar - Comment posted on 08/12/2009 16:06
Pyroph
Rearmed was amazing.
forgot my password's Avatar - Comment posted on 08/12/2009 16:08
forgot my password
if you make games that suck anus juice of course you're gona go belly up.
I'm glad they got shut down less shovelassware for the people
dmgi's Avatar - Comment posted on 08/12/2009 16:09
dmgi
After the sales of Bionic Commando I really can't say that it comes as a surprise. It's still sad when people who create a mediocre game get hit back so hard when tons of other studios who have released worse games get excellent sales.
themizarkshow's Avatar - Comment posted on 08/12/2009 16:12
themizarkshow
That sucks. I've been really enjoying Bionic Commando (yes, the 3D game) and have Wanted on my shelf ready to be played. I was hoping for some more arcade sort of titles (like Rearmed) from them. I think they took too many chances on what they hoped would be AAA titles instead of following up on the success of Rearmed. Too bad...
GoldenGamerXero's Avatar - Comment posted on 08/12/2009 16:12
GoldenGamerXero
Although overall the COMPANY deserved to go down with all those crappy games they made I do hope that the individuals that formed it can get new jobs (Preferably separately from each other.) but I have to say when the only good thing anyone can remember is a single good but not great game you were definately doing it wrong.
D-503's Avatar - Comment posted on 08/12/2009 16:14
D-503
It's too bad that so many people were put out of a job, but there is a reason: their games just didn't sell because they weren't very good. During a time of prosperity you might get away with that but not during a recession.
Niero's Avatar - Comment posted on 08/12/2009 16:18
Niero
Ugh, cashflow strikes again. I bet they could have braved it in a different economic climate.
ShurikenX's Avatar - Comment posted on 08/12/2009 16:26
ShurikenX
There problem is not having original IPs. So they shouldn't shoulder all the blame if the game sucks. Though can't they sue the publishers for the payments?
mix's Avatar - Comment posted on 08/12/2009 16:28
mix
@Holyetheline

I feel the same way man, I never touched those games with a 10 foot hooker leg.
Cowboy TTop's Avatar - Comment posted on 08/12/2009 16:32
Cowboy TTop
Not surprised, since Bionic Commmando and Terminator hurt them, or should that be the other way around? Its a shame, but I hope their key talent bounces back.
PEICanada7's Avatar - Comment posted on 08/12/2009 16:36
PEICanada7
Its's getting increasingly disturbing that once a developer has a flop, or two on the 360/PS3 means that they're probably going out of business soon thereafter. Free Radical, Factor 5, Midway, and now Grin all bet heavily on the 360, or PS3 and failed hard because of it. People can talk about how some 3rd Party games bomb on the Wii, but you don't hear about the developers behind those game going under right after.

Which just confirms that HD development cost are way too high for these small studio's to compete with the big boys anymore. The easy way to fix it is to just make better games, but let's face it, that's not always going to happen. So with one, or two mistakes on the PS3/360, and that's it. Any small studio could be the next to go under!
Daxelman's Avatar - Comment posted on 08/12/2009 16:39
Daxelman
D-503: Deca Sports was horrible, and it sold 2 million units.

The only truly bad game GRIN made where Terminator Salvation. Bionic Commando was average, as with Wanted. I'm sure BC would have sold a bunch more IF CACPOM DID SOMETHING TO PROMOTE IT.
CBunn's Avatar - Comment posted on 08/12/2009 16:40
CBunn
Turbofail's Avatar - Comment posted on 08/12/2009 16:41
Turbofail
They made some shit games, but Ballistics is still friggen awesome.
ArrestedDeveloper's Avatar - Comment posted on 08/12/2009 16:41
ArrestedDeveloper
They did such a good job on the XBLA Bionic Commando remake. Sad Panda.
CBunn's Avatar - Comment posted on 08/12/2009 16:43
CBunn
Also, does this means that we can forget getting trophy support for BC: Rearmed?
Onlineatron's Avatar - Comment posted on 08/12/2009 16:48
Onlineatron
@CBunn
BC:R has already been patched with trophies.... well at least in the US and UK it has.

It's sad to see a promising studio go... It goes to show that mediocre film tie-ins don't cut it with Gen-Pop now a days.
NoMoneyLeftBoy's Avatar - Comment posted on 08/12/2009 16:52
NoMoneyLeftBoy
@ Turbofail Absolutely, my eyes are still bleeding from that game. Gotta still be the fastest game around - made Wipeout look like a stroll in the fucking park.
TheCleaningGuy's Avatar - Comment posted on 08/12/2009 17:03
TheCleaningGuy
What daxelman said.
It's sad to see these guys go though.
CBunn's Avatar - Comment posted on 08/12/2009 17:06
CBunn
@ Onlineatron
Thanks! I Haven't fired the game up in a while, I'll definitely check it now.
macncheese's Avatar - Comment posted on 08/12/2009 17:15
macncheese
Darn, I hate when good companies like this go. I hope my favorite show the Othersiders doesn't either.
Dexter345's Avatar - Comment posted on 08/12/2009 17:18
Dexter345
Shoot, CBunn took my joke. I'm gonna do it anyway.

Pyrex is Metal's Avatar - Comment posted on 08/12/2009 17:19
Pyrex is Metal
ReArmed was about as thrilling as Turtles in Time ReShelled, maybe less so since it lacked 4 player co-op on live. Still better than the retail game they put out though, that's going bargain bin fast.

Shame the employees are out of the job, but as for the company itself.... won't miss ya.
Arch649's Avatar - Comment posted on 08/12/2009 17:32
Arch649
That's too bad. I always cringe when a game development team goes under. It's a tough field.
Artemus's Avatar - Comment posted on 08/12/2009 17:58
Artemus
Funny... The Grin logo upside down. Clever. That's the first thing I thought of, too. Ha ha!
Grin's closing is not a good sign of things to come. Hope this doesn't happen to many other publishers, anytime soon.
I still believe the new Bionic Commando got a bad rap, it was an enjoyable game with a few flaws. I believe, like the original, it will build a cult following in the coming months and years.
I loved every minute of it... Thank you, Grin.
Yes, BC: Rearmed is amazing.
wanderingpixel's Avatar - Comment posted on 08/12/2009 18:08
wanderingpixel
They weren't perfect, but they made some solid games as well as ports. We'll miss ya GRIN.
Bilar's Avatar - Comment posted on 08/12/2009 18:08
Bilar
It's okay everyone. Sweden has one of the best unemployment systems in the entire world. They are taken care of real well.

During my semester living in Sweden last spring, I would always walk by the HiTechBuilding where GRIN's Stockholm office was. I always wanted to walk in and thank them for making Bionic Commando Rearmed, but thought it would be a awkward thing to do. Now I wish I had...

I'm pouring a Nils Oscar out for you, GRIN. Sorry things didn't work out.
Puppy Licks's Avatar - Comment posted on 08/12/2009 18:28
Puppy Licks
Rearmed was incredible, shame Bionic Commando missed a lot of opportunities, but still they had potential. They could have learned from their mistakes, but not anymore :(
Gten's Avatar - Comment posted on 08/12/2009 18:32
Gten
wow this is bullshit.
Los255's Avatar - Comment posted on 08/12/2009 20:27
Los255
Is there hope for another Bionic Commando?!
Monodi's Avatar - Comment posted on 08/12/2009 20:27
Monodi
NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOBIONICCOMMANDOSUCKEDBUTOHWELOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
pascuz46's Avatar - Comment posted on 08/12/2009 21:49
pascuz46
@ PEI

Point taken, however there is a way to combat the shutting down of game studio's by making better games, like you said, but smaller in size. There are numerous options for game distribution now than ever before. PSN, XBLA, Steam can make a company money, sure it might not be looked at as a AAA title but you can have a great HD gaming experience for a lower development cost. Its still a real shame that the company closed down, all those people losing there jobs is never a good thing.
Velt's Avatar - Comment posted on 08/13/2009 00:48
Velt
Is more than sad when a business closes its doors. I know how it feels.
Conan-san's Avatar - Comment posted on 08/14/2009 00:43
Conan-san
Let this be a lesson, you can make a million good games, but once the first bad one hits, your ass is on the line of fire.
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