Following the sale of most of Midway to new owner Warner Bros., Midway Newcastle was shuttered, its staff given their walking papers. The Wheelman developer never found a buyer for the now defunct studio, nor its original IP, Necessary Force.
Midway's UK studio was shut down this morning and all staff let go as the time to find a buyer for the studio behind Wheelman and Necessary Force ran out, a Midway spokesman told Kotaku today.
With all things Midway up for auction and interested buyer Warner Bros. committed to purchasing only portions of the company, some of the company's assets are looking for a new home. That includes Midway Newcastle—and its new game.
], [http://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/s--sS-A-BJ2--/c_fill,fl_progressive,g_north,h_358,q_80,w_636/18hgjps0pyaffjpg.jpg, (small)], [http://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/s--UKzHbg6f--/c_fill,fl_progressive,g_north,h_180,q_80,w_320/18hgjps0pyaffjpg.jpg, (medium)], [http://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/s--L-FKEmRQ--/c_fill,fl_progressive,g_north,h_77,q_80,w_137/18hgjps0pyaffjpg.jpg, (large)])
Wheelman (the game) was supposed to be based on Wheelman (the movie). Didn't happen, so we only got the game. But now, for some reason, we're actually going to get that movie.
], [http://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/s--4wumDvMF--/c_fill,fl_progressive,g_north,h_358,q_80,w_636/18hgk6xlepfm9jpg.jpg, (small)], [http://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/s--7FdOKGUv--/c_fill,fl_progressive,g_north,h_180,q_80,w_320/18hgk6xlepfm9jpg.jpg, (medium)], [http://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/s--RHZWv-4w--/c_fill,fl_progressive,g_north,h_77,q_80,w_137/18hgk6xlepfm9jpg.jpg, (large)])
Even more back of Vin Diesel's head action is coming our way as Ubisoft, Midway, and Tigon Studios announce both free and premium content for Wheelman.
], [http://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/s--vms0_i4x--/c_fill,fl_progressive,g_north,h_358,q_80,w_636/18hgmp79d5nehjpg.jpg, (small)], [http://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/s--lhnSO1mg--/c_fill,fl_progressive,g_north,h_180,q_80,w_320/18hgmp79d5nehjpg.jpg, (medium)], [http://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/s--F6nlR_w2--/c_fill,fl_progressive,g_north,h_77,q_80,w_137/18hgmp79d5nehjpg.jpg, (large)])
Mortal Kombat publisher Midway caught some heat from its creditors and a government-appointed trustee over some questionable bonuses attached to the sale of its properties and a publishing agreement with Wheelman co-publisher Ubisoft.
], [http://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/s--wAPG3vLN--/c_fill,fl_progressive,g_north,h_358,q_80,w_636/18hgmyqkonbt0jpg.jpg, (small)], [http://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/s--A5-tUpRd--/c_fill,fl_progressive,g_north,h_180,q_80,w_320/18hgmyqkonbt0jpg.jpg, (medium)], [http://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/s--enLw3BJP--/c_fill,fl_progressive,g_north,h_77,q_80,w_137/18hgmyqkonbt0jpg.jpg, (large)])
Midway's European operations are not part of its chapter 11 reorganization, which means the devs there, having finished up on Wheelman, are looking ahead to other things. Like an open-world game expanding on Wheelman's technology.
], [http://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/s--myor42GP--/c_fill,fl_progressive,g_north,h_358,q_80,w_636/18hgu2ezz7nv6jpg.jpg, (small)], [http://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/s--5ir09pT1--/c_fill,fl_progressive,g_north,h_180,q_80,w_320/18hgu2ezz7nv6jpg.jpg, (medium)], [http://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/s--72sslBcb--/c_fill,fl_progressive,g_north,h_77,q_80,w_137/18hgu2ezz7nv6jpg.jpg, (large)])
Along with several shots of driving and explosions, this latest set of screens for Midway's Wheelman serve as a showcase for the back of Vin Diesel's head.
], [http://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/s--YYuf3bBF--/c_fill,fl_progressive,g_north,h_358,q_80,w_636/18hgu6owbli4ojpg.jpg, (small)], [http://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/s--ic3p0qDa--/c_fill,fl_progressive,g_north,h_180,q_80,w_320/18hgu6owbli4ojpg.jpg, (medium)], [http://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/s--xSQO3C-R--/c_fill,fl_progressive,g_north,h_77,q_80,w_137/18hgu6owbli4ojpg.jpg, (large)])
1.31gigs worth of Vin Diesel-flavored action is now available for download, as Midway's Wheelman demo barrel rolls dramatically onto Xbox Live.
], [http://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/s--cuI0ChlR--/c_fill,fl_progressive,g_north,h_358,q_80,w_636/18rhyb30o6t9hjpg.jpg, (small)], [http://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/s--ksGomI3i--/c_fill,fl_progressive,g_north,h_180,q_80,w_320/18rhyb30o6t9hjpg.jpg, (medium)], [http://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/s--mGInO60O--/c_fill,fl_progressive,g_north,h_77,q_80,w_137/18rhyb30o6t9hjpg.jpg, (large)])
The latest developer walkthrough video for Ubisoft and Midway's Wheelman shows that virtual Vin Diesel is every bit as adept at shooting people on motorcycles as he is shooting people in cars.
], [http://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/s--w4oVqyWY--/c_fill,fl_progressive,g_north,h_358,q_80,w_636/18j4xcohx7pdjjpg.jpg, (small)], [http://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/s--5Xwzbnno--/c_fill,fl_progressive,g_north,h_180,q_80,w_320/18j4xcohx7pdjjpg.jpg, (medium)], [http://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/s--jZ8e9SBm--/c_fill,fl_progressive,g_north,h_77,q_80,w_137/18j4xcohx7pdjjpg.jpg, (large)])
The PS3 is a powerful, powerful machine, but harnessing that power isn't easy. There are confusing, technical ways of explaining just why this is, but we like Midway developer Shaun Himmerick's explanation better.
], [http://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/s--zjVyMy3t--/c_fill,fl_progressive,g_north,h_358,q_80,w_636/18j4xtacjnygejpg.jpg, (small)], [http://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/s--Y4VbMDf5--/c_fill,fl_progressive,g_north,h_180,q_80,w_320/18j4xtacjnygejpg.jpg, (medium)], [http://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/s--Pxw7kk6Z--/c_fill,fl_progressive,g_north,h_77,q_80,w_137/18j4xtacjnygejpg.jpg, (large)])
Last week we broke the news that Ubisoft had picked up Wheelman from struggling developer Midway. Today, Ubisoft confirms our story, calling the deal a "strategic relationship."
], [http://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/s--8xIM13V4--/c_fill,fl_progressive,g_north,h_358,q_80,w_636/18j4yatqe6pvwjpg.jpg, (small)], [http://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/s--O3nzE7KS--/c_fill,fl_progressive,g_north,h_180,q_80,w_320/18j4yatqe6pvwjpg.jpg, (medium)], [http://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/s--GuzPJ69c--/c_fill,fl_progressive,g_north,h_77,q_80,w_137/18j4yatqe6pvwjpg.jpg, (large)])
Wheelman, the open world Vin Diesel racer, may be the first title to be properly reorganized under Midway's chapter 11 bankruptcy, as Kotaku has heard that the game has found a new home at Ubisoft.
], [http://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/s--YXXcWE11--/c_fill,fl_progressive,g_north,h_358,q_80,w_636/18j5085od46dhjpg.jpg, (small)], [http://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/s--UFsEy5SZ--/c_fill,fl_progressive,g_north,h_180,q_80,w_320/18j5085od46dhjpg.jpg, (medium)], [http://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/s--nWQzqUxK--/c_fill,fl_progressive,g_north,h_77,q_80,w_137/18j5085od46dhjpg.jpg, (large)])
Seems Wheelman has hit some traffic on the way to store shelves. The Vin Diesel vehicle won't make its previously scheduled February release date, but is now locked in for a March 20th arrival.
], [http://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/s--_L55zuc4--/c_fill,fl_progressive,g_north,h_358,q_80,w_636/18j53yviauyvdjpg.jpg, (small)], [http://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/s--tEoShI7s--/c_fill,fl_progressive,g_north,h_180,q_80,w_320/18j53yviauyvdjpg.jpg, (medium)], [http://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/s--dt9XA0zM--/c_fill,fl_progressive,g_north,h_77,q_80,w_137/18j53yviauyvdjpg.jpg, (large)])
Vin Diesel's well-cultivated Hollywood tough guy image isn't going to be helped by Midway's Christmas card, which is heavy on Wheelman promotion and Santa suits. We're guessing Vin's agent got a call today.
], [http://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/s--IKNpX-QK--/c_fill,fl_progressive,g_north,h_358,q_80,w_636/18hhal0y4tgtcjpg.jpg, (small)], [http://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/s--VtEdsKAN--/c_fill,fl_progressive,g_north,h_180,q_80,w_320/18hhal0y4tgtcjpg.jpg, (medium)], [http://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/s--J_frI2Mx--/c_fill,fl_progressive,g_north,h_77,q_80,w_137/18hhal0y4tgtcjpg.jpg, (large)])
Midway's Wheelman creative director Simon Woodroffe offered up some details about the company's future lineup of games yesterday.
], [http://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/s--FAqZB_CI--/c_fill,fl_progressive,g_north,h_358,q_80,w_636/18j57jcewa4hyjpg.jpg, (small)], [http://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/s--u4A4E8gj--/c_fill,fl_progressive,g_north,h_180,q_80,w_320/18j57jcewa4hyjpg.jpg, (medium)], [http://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/s--geqlmSFf--/c_fill,fl_progressive,g_north,h_77,q_80,w_137/18j57jcewa4hyjpg.jpg, (large)])
], [http://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/s--SYMHZALa--/c_fill,fl_progressive,g_north,h_358,q_80,w_636/17n0186y5bw34jpg.jpg, (small)], [http://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/s--PCB9dy_z--/c_fill,fl_progressive,g_north,h_180,q_80,w_320/17n0186y5bw34jpg.jpg, (medium)], [http://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/s--FFGqdyF7--/c_fill,fl_progressive,g_north,h_77,q_80,w_137/17n0186y5bw34jpg.jpg, (large)])
], [http://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/s--DBwUeKSY--/c_fill,fl_progressive,g_north,h_358,q_80,w_636/17n00cwbbi9kfjpg.jpg, (small)], [http://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/s---Dcw-n6n--/c_fill,fl_progressive,g_north,h_180,q_80,w_320/17n00cwbbi9kfjpg.jpg, (medium)], [http://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/s--CjPjPvG5--/c_fill,fl_progressive,g_north,h_77,q_80,w_137/17n00cwbbi9kfjpg.jpg, (large)])
"Step inside the world of…