Realtime Worlds restructures

Scottish developer Realtime Worlds has announced it is to restructure following the release of its online game APB: All Points Bulletin.

In the short term, staff headcounts on APB will increase, as part of a pledge to provide "total support" and create future content for the multiplayer urban shooter. Post-release marketing will also see a boost.

However, some redundancies within the company are expected as development priorities shift, with an undisclosed second title being "downscaled" in order to better focus on APB's future.

The studio claims it will nonetheless be recruiting in other areas, particularly "post-launch" roles. Positions available include a new Design Lead, with the successful applicant being expected to "Review and drive improvement to overall game quality and structure."

While Realtime Worlds' CEO Gary Dale said that APB received a "great reception from consumers and we’re immensely proud of the game the team has produced," many reviewers have not been as kind.

This led to project lead (and GTA creator) Dave Jones defending the title in a recent interview with sister site Eurogamer.net.

Stating that the game's servers were 60 per cent full during launch week and that the game remained a long-term investment, he attributed lower scores - including Eurogamer's own 6/10 - to "misconceptions in some respects from the people who aren't quite getting it."

Following the announcement of the restructure, Gary Dale added "We now have to focus our efforts and resources on running APB as a 24/7 online live operation, creating new content and services for the future and ensuring the best possible experience for the players."