Saw this over on NeoGaf:
Who could be helming the next PGR?
Microsoft has been hunting for a developer in Europe for the PGR series since 2010. So this has been in the planning for a while now. My guess would also be that Forza Horizon came out of that partner search.
The most solid report we have so far is that Lucid Games is making the next PGR. Source seems solid, because it also confirmed Evolution Studio’s DriveClub. Polygon’s Arthur Gies also gave a confirmation.
Lucid games posted a picture with on it “coming 2013” on their website. Their FAQ also gives a hint that they are working on an old Bizarre IP. Lucid folk also showed up in the PGR appreciation thread.
Microsoft recently renewed the PGR trademark.
Lucid has about 20+ ex-Bizarre Creations employees and in total around 34 employees according to LinkedIn. Take into account that not all employees make or have LinkedIn accounts, so the number is probably higher. Still, it sounds low for a company that is going to make the next PGR.
Rare has been hiring a lot of racing developers, from designers to producers on franchises like DiRT and GRiD. Is Rare maybe doing a co-production with Lucid Games Ltd? Well, the idea would not be too farfetched seeing as Forza Horizon was a co-production between T10 and Playground Games.
The people over at Lucid Games Ltd.:
Art Manager: was lead 3D artist on PGR2 and 3. Joined Lucid in February 2012 after a stint at Criterion Games working as Contract 3D artist and World Builder on Need for Speed Most Wanted 2.
Audio Lead: was contract Audio Designer on Blood Stone. Joined Lucid in January 2012 after a three month contract on a Kinect title at Rare.
Character Animator: joined Lucid in October 2012 and notes he is working on a soon to be announced game.
Computer Games Artist: was Technical Artist on PGR3 and 4. He joined Lucid in February 2012.
Designer: was a Games Designer on Blood Stone and The Club.
Designer: was Level Designer on The Club and Blood Stone. He joined Lucid in October 2011 after a five month stint as Environment Artist Wipeout 2048 at SCEE.
Developer: notes on his linkedin on a Top Secret project.
Doing art: was Art Director on Blur and Lead Environment Artist, Lead Effects and Lighting Artist on PGR4.
Doing production: served as Senior Producer on Blur, Producer on PGR4 and Co-Producer on PGR3.
Game Developer: was Senior Designer on Sonic All Stars Racing: Transformed at Sumo Digital, Senior Designer on Blood Stone at Bizarre Creations and Lead Designer on the Wipeout franchise at Sony.
Lead artist: served as Art Manager on PGR2, 3, 4 and Blood Stone. He joined Lucid in February 2012 after a stint as Art Manager on Forza Horizon at Playground Games.
Programmer: was Gameplay Programmer for Blur.
Programmer: was Vehicle Programmer at Bizarre Creations and Programmer on Motorstorm: Pacific Rift at Sony.
Programmer: was Audio Programmer on PGR3 and 4. Joined Lucid in October of 2011 after a three month contract at Rare.
Programmer: was Gameplay Programmer on The Club.
Technical Artist: was a Technical Artist on PGR4.
The Co-Founder and Programmer: served as Lead Technical Programmer on Blur and as Programmer on PGR3 and 4.
The Co-Founder and Programmer: served as Lead Programmer on Blood Stone.
The Co-Founder: served as Studio Design Director on PGR 4.
The Co-founder: served as Producer on Blood Stone and The Club.
The Studio Head: served as Development Director and Producer for the Project Gotham Racing franchise over.
Recent hires at Rare Ltd.:
On October 2011 as Software Director. Previously at Codemasters working as Lead Programmer on titles like DiRT 3 and Operation Flashpoint: Dragon Rising.
On November 2011 as Studio Audio Director. Previously at Ubisoft Reflections working on Driver: San Francisco.
On December 2011 as Technical Art Director. Previously at Codemasters working as Technical Art Supervisor on titles like GRID2, DiRT3, F1 Race Stars and more.
On June 2012 as Lead Artist. Previously at Codemasters working as Lead Artist on titles like DiRT3.
On October 2012 as Senior Producer. Previously at Codemasters working as Producer on titles like DiRT Showdown, DiRT 3 and more.
On November 2012 as Senior Game Designer. Previously at Codemasters working as Senior Game Designer on DiRT Showdown and DiRT 3.
On December 2012 as Principal Lighting Artist. Previously at Codemasters working as Environment Artist on titles like GRID2 and DiRT Showdown.
On December 2012 as Lead Character Artist. Previously at SCEE working on Evolution Studios' Motorstorm: Apocalypse and Studio Liverpool's WipeOut 2048.
On December 2012 as Principle environment artist. Previously Senior Lead Artist at Codemasters working on titles like GRID2 and F1 Race Stars.
On January 2013 as Principal Rendering Engineer. Previously at Codemasters working as Principal Rendering Programmer at Central Technology Group.
On January 2013 as Senior Rendering Engineer. Previously at Codemasters working as Senior Rendering Programmer.
On February 2013 as Audio Engineer. Previously at Codemasters working as Senior Programmer on GRID2 and DiRT Showdown.
On February 2013 as Principal Artist. Previously Character Artist at Playground Games, Codemasters and Slightly Mad Studios.
Other tidbits:
Rare hired former Bizarre Creations the Video Editor and Cinematics Team Lead!
Rare asked a contract concept artist to make some interesting concepts. Gaffer confirmed that the project was cancelled.
