Codemasters Picks Up Sega Racing Studio

Following an April 9th announcement that developer Sega Racing Studio ceased its operations over concerns of profitability, UK-based developer and publisher Codemasters has revealed an agreement with Sega to take over Sega Racing Studio, absorbing over 40 of its employees. Formed in 2005 and made up of racing game veterans from Codemasters, Criterion Games, Rockstar, and Rare, Sega Racing Studio’s only release was Sega Rally (aka Sega Rally Revo) in 2007, which received praise for revamping the series, but was not considered a financial hit. The decision to close the Birmingham-based developer resulted from a review of Sega’s western development studios to ensure that each studio is a profitable entity in its own plan, a requisite that Sega Racing Studio’s five-year plan showed trouble meeting. Codemasters chief executive Rod Cousens said: “In seizing this opportunity, we have created additional resources to escalate our plans in the racing segment. We hope to welcome more than 40 people to the company and we have enjoyed the full co-operation of our friends at Sega in making this happen. It is good business for Codemasters, an exciting prospect and there will be more to come as we are not content to stand still.”