ATD goes to the wall; Kaboom in crisis?

UK development group Kaboom Studios is thought to be facing serious difficulties, with major studio Attention to Detail going into liquidation late last week and further cuts expected elsewhere in the group.

ATD went into liquidation last Thursday, according to ex-employees who spoke to gi.biz today, resulting in the layoffs of approximately 50 staff; the closure of the studio is thought to be related to a failure to sign a title based on original IP, Ion Runner, with a publisher, as well as broader financial trouble within Kaboom.

Another Kaboom studio, Silicon Dreams, continues to operate but insiders at the company expect cuts to be announced there within the coming weeks. Conflict Desert Storm developer Pivotal Games, however, is expected to be unaffected by the cuts, as it is more independent financially than the other Kaboom group companies.

Only a short while ago the Kaboom group, headed up by industry veteran Geoff Brown, was one of the most ambitious forces in UK development, opening its own motion capture studio as well as a number of studios and undertaking projects for a variety of major publishers. The trouble at the group will be a major blow for game development in the UK midlands.

Kaboom could not be reached for official comment at time of going to press.