It’s game over for another Vancouver video game studio.
Rockstar Games announced yesterday it was shutting down its 35-person Vancouver studio, which had recently completed Max Payne 3, in favour of consolidating operations in Toronto.
The move comes on the heels of Radical Entertainment, Vancouver’s oldest studio, laying off 89 employees, ending the branch’s ability to develop their own games.
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In a press release, the company cited financial incentives by the Ontario government, including their support in building a new studio.
Ontario offers a tax credit to video game developers that covers up to 37.5 per cent of labour costs, while B.C.’s equivalent program covers 17.5 per cent.
All 35 members of the studio have been offered the opportunity to move to Rockstar Toronto or one of its other studios.
The Beatty Street studio was formerly home to Barking Dog Studios before being bought by Rockstar in 2002.
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