Report: Ignition Florida Shutters As Reich 'Refocusing'

UK-based Ignition's Gainesville, FL game development studio is rumored to be shuttered, just weeks after reports emerged that the company would cease London-based game development. Ignition Florida has been at work on the Unreal Engine 3-based first-person shooter Reich. The game was originally announced in 2008 for unspecified platforms for a 2009 release. A rep for Ignition told Gamasutra in an email, "We are continuing the Florida Studio’s project but refocusing it in the right direction. UTV Ignition will make an official news release regarding the studio soon." The rep did not confirm reports that claimed all of Ignition Florida's 70 employees were let go. Shortly after Ignition founded the studio in 2007, Gainesville's Council for Economic Outreach said the studio would be home to "70 high income jobs." A call to the Florida studio went unanswered. An anonymous forum post claimed police officers showed up to Ignition Florida's office on Monday and closed down the operation alongside Ignition corporate managers. Unverified reports said Reich is thus far an expensive flop quality-wise, costing $23 million. The rep did not comment on those circumstances. Ignition's next big project is El Shaddai, currently in development at Ignition's Tokyo studio. The UK-headquartered company also has offices in L.A. Past Ignition-published games in the U.S. include Muramasa: The Demon Blade and Deadly Premonition.