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Home Rumortoid updates

One hundred LucasArts employees laid off, spill the beans on upcoming games

1:19 PM on 06.06.2008, Justin Villasenor 48 comments

One hundred LucasArts employees laid off, spill the beans on upcoming games photo
     Rumortoid

Kotaku has received word from several LucasArts employees that the company is phasing out employees at all levels of production, including QA testers, programmers, artists, and LEGO Indiana Jones and LEGO Star Wars: The Complete Saga producer Shawn Stoc. These positions are expected to be outsourced overseas, with LucasArts to more strongly utilize outside development teams to handle their IPs.

Several of these ex-employees, obviously more than a little miffed over the mass layoffs, have decided to start spilling the beans on several titles LucasArts was rumored to have in development. Among them are Star Wars Battlefront 3, another LEGO Indiana Jones game (which Traveler’s Tales had already said was a possibility), a Wii lightsaber game, and a non-LEGO Indiana Jones game. What’s that? Those titles don’t have you very excited?  Well how about this: word of Knights of the Old Republic III and its companion MMO has also surfaced. Excuse me while I release a cry of unbridled joy.

While some of these games are likely residing in the hands of other developers (BioWare better be working on KotOR 3!) the status of those still being handled by LucasArts might be looking a little worrisome with so much of their workforce cut loose. Thankfully, Star Wars: The Force Unleashed is apparently far enough along in its development cycle (ready to ship, in fact) to not be affected by these mass firings. Day 1 Studios’ Fracture also seems to be unaffected, although several team members referred to it as “an absolute piece of garbage.” Ouch! Of course, it’s entirely probable that statement had more to do with resentment towards their former employer than the game’s actual quality. Although this news is all but confirmed, we'll go ahead and file this as a Rumortoid until we receive some sort of statement from LucasArts.

So what do you think about the change in LucasArts’ development model? Are you as pumped over a more solid KOTOR 3 confirmation as I am?


Next page: More LucasArts stories




Guagloves's Avatar
Guagloves at 06/06/2008 13:21
fapfapfap
Cheeburga's Avatar
Cheeburga at 06/06/2008 13:22
:D
mrberns's Avatar
mrberns at 06/06/2008 13:23
SQUEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!!!!!!!!!!

I'm gonna just sit here and smile for the rest of the day...also thats unfortunate about the whole layoff thing...


SQUEE!
Christiangamer's Avatar
Christiangamer at 06/06/2008 13:24
Battlefront 3!!!!!!!! Heck yes!!!!!
GuitarAtomik's Avatar
GuitarAtomik at 06/06/2008 13:26
Give me KOTOR 3. That is all.


Also, new Battlefront.
DrkAdonis's Avatar
DrkAdonis at 06/06/2008 13:26
fapfapfapittyfapfap
Wexx's Avatar
Wexx at 06/06/2008 13:30
I still need to play KOTOR....
ArrestedDeveloper's Avatar
ArrestedDeveloper at 06/06/2008 13:32
Who cares that 100 people can't provide for their family, I'm getting KOTOR 3!
CJSchmidt's Avatar
CJSchmidt at 06/06/2008 13:39
I'd love to see the KOTOR MMO be the first really successful console MMO. With the failure that was SWO, I don't see another Star Wars MMO standing up to WOW. Knights of the Old Republic seems like a much better setting for a game like this - lots more Jedi and they have more flexability.
kalidanthepalidan's Avatar
kalidanthepalidan at 06/06/2008 13:41
That sucks for all those former employees. Hopefully they'll be picked up by some other developer.
Danmartigan's Avatar
Danmartigan at 06/06/2008 13:41
BAH fuck that is terrible. LucasArts continues to die a painful death.

Also.... WHO THE FUCK IS JUSTIN VILLASENOR??
kagai's Avatar
kagai at 06/06/2008 13:43
Ya gotta love outsourcing!
Holyetheline's Avatar
Holyetheline at 06/06/2008 13:48
Wii lightsaber game? Hell yeaS!
AlucardX24's Avatar
AlucardX24 at 06/06/2008 13:49
I came.
Justin Villasenor's Avatar
Justin Villasenor at 06/06/2008 13:51
Look over here for the answer to who I am, Dan.
Volomon's Avatar
Volomon at 06/06/2008 13:58
They got rid of quality for cheaper labor, somehow I don't think that will work with the games.
KOOOSHEE's Avatar
KOOOSHEE at 06/06/2008 14:01
kotor 3 would more or less prove the existance of god, enough said!
Zarathustra's Avatar
Zarathustra at 06/06/2008 14:02
Wow. I knew someone who went to work for LucasArts last year. I hope he was one of the people fired. That guy was a douche.
EternalDeathSlayer's Avatar
EternalDeathSlayer at 06/06/2008 14:03
While I am excited at the prospect of KOTOR 3, I have to admit I am so much more excited by the idea of Battlefront 3. They could make the same game, but bigger and prettier, and my head would explode.
Technophile's Avatar
Technophile at 06/06/2008 14:07
Huh. Well that's terrible irresponsible. I wonder if these guys realized that an NDA does not stop applying to you if you get fired or quit.

I guess they will find out when the LLOD* come for them.

*Lucas Lawyers of Doom
Clockwork's Avatar
Clockwork at 06/06/2008 14:17
I can't handle rumors and speculation when it comes to Battlefront 3 and KOTOR 3. I need some announcements.
Zen Albatross's Avatar
Zen Albatross at 06/06/2008 14:19
DEY TERKER JAERBS!!!
JayTapp's Avatar
JayTapp at 06/06/2008 14:29
give us a new TIE-FIGHTER/X-WING damn it lucas !!!!
KyleGamgee's Avatar
KyleGamgee at 06/06/2008 14:45
What, no word of a LEGO Lord of the Rings? Dang, 'cause it would be nice to have a decent Lord of the Rings video game.

sk33t sk33t
ohgr89's Avatar
ohgr89 at 06/06/2008 14:53
No, Fracture probably is a piece of garbage.
Tet's Avatar
Tet at 06/06/2008 15:01
Well, maybe if Battlefront is outsourced overseas it will actually work properly for once on PC.

Although overseas outsourcing would make the romance angle in KOTOR easier to write. Your female character gets an arranged marriage with the choice of 1.Happily accept or 2.Get hacked to pieces by your family.
Syn's Avatar
Syn at 06/06/2008 15:15
Ughhhh, outsourcing pisses me off, I'm so tired of having to listen to thick-assed accents on the phone, and now the quality of games is probably going to drop dramatically too. Just to save a buck.
Blue Ryd3r's Avatar
Blue Ryd3r at 06/06/2008 15:27
I'm actually more excited for a Battlefront 3. Battlefront 2 was SO awesome, it had its flaws but was still a blast to play. If a Next Gen version is as big an improvement as the last one was then good time are ahead.

As for a KOTOR 3. Although I liked 2 I was real disappointed with the unfinished loose ends aspect of it. If they could release a complete product with an acceptable angle of improvement (Knights of the New Republic maybe?) I would dampen my pants for sure.
kawitchate's Avatar
kawitchate at 06/06/2008 15:35
mass layoffs = LAME
KOTOR3, BF3 = super sweet
Holiday's Avatar
Holiday at 06/06/2008 16:20
Interesting...So instead of 4 year old kids making wallets in dark basements they'll be working on video games. Things are looking up indeed.
Gameboi's Avatar
Gameboi at 06/06/2008 16:24
Talk about a Megaton announcement!
Demtor's Avatar
Demtor at 06/06/2008 16:25
Meh, I'm sick of all the Jedi nonsense. Overkill if you asked me. Why can't I be a grunt in a Tie Fighter. Dog fighting with my squadron over the hull of a battle cruiser with next gen graphical power. I just... I... I'm sorry... the thought of that is getting me all misty. So beautiful... *sniff* ... *sniff*
Danmartigan's Avatar
Danmartigan at 06/06/2008 16:27
@ SeƱor Villasenor
I wasn't actually expecting an answer, was just hazing you- SILLY PANTS!
Knyte's Avatar
Knyte at 06/06/2008 17:11
So what kind of complex string of contract would be required for Bioware to make KOTOR 3?

I don't think EA is just going to loan out their newest developer to Lucasarts, do you?

If Bioware IS making KOTOR 3, then it would be a joint release between EA and Lucasarts, which I don't think Lucasart would do. Since when has George let any company beside his own profit off the Star Wars name?
TrailerParkJesus's Avatar
TrailerParkJesus at 06/06/2008 17:24
Oh no, Fracture! And KOTOR 3 not by Bioware? I don't know about that one
Aberrant Thought's Avatar
Aberrant Thought at 06/06/2008 17:59
Battlefront 3?


*dies in joy*
Lewis Bell's Avatar
Lewis Bell at 06/06/2008 18:46
BF3 :D
bleep's Avatar
bleep at 06/06/2008 18:52
I really need to stay away from any new KOTOR games....don't have enough hours in the day....
Electro Lemon's Avatar
Electro Lemon at 06/06/2008 18:59
Dear Capcom, EA, and Activision-

Please fire 100 of your employees.
Thanks, bitch, you're my rock-

Cobra.
Wedge's Avatar
Wedge at 06/06/2008 19:13
Please, you have to only have to look at Fracture for five seconds to realize that's a piece of shit. Just like Lucas Arts is these days anyways. Do they even HAVE internal studios anymore? If so, what the hell do they do?

And why would Bioware be doing KotoR 3 when EA owns them now?
Noah's Avatar
Noah at 06/06/2008 23:27
Lucas is likely building a clone army to develop his games.
Crumpet Lips's Avatar
Crumpet Lips at 06/06/2008 23:49
I can't wait for The Force Unleashed. My housemate's friend is a tester for that game and he has been telling us just how good it is, sounds really awesome.

Star Wars Knights of the Old Republic 3!?!?! HELL YES! I will eat that up in a second.
Dan CiTi's Avatar
Dan CiTi at 06/07/2008 12:50
KotOR3? HELLO!
SenorCalavera's Avatar
SenorCalavera at 06/07/2008 13:30
Still no news of adventure games coming back? Dammit
loki d20's Avatar
loki d20 at 06/07/2008 21:31
Shipping jobs overseas should be illegal, IMHO.

I'm really not that interested in KOTOR3 or the MMO at this moment, but it better as hell have been developed in the U.S.
yzzlthtz's Avatar
yzzlthtz at 06/08/2008 21:45
#1: all my lucasarts purchases from now on will be used copies. this was a real asshole maneuver on the part of the new lucasarts ceo.

#2: (this is pure speculation) regarding the wiimote lightsaber rumor: cross reference this with the evidence of wii-mote clones for the 360 and the ps3, plus the fact that lucasarts rarely releases platform exclusive titles, and you have an even juicier rumor: lucasarts is working on a remote lightsaber game for the 3 next-gen home consoles. we might even see a release of the 360 and ps3 version of these games come packaged with the new controllers.
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