The Psygnosis logo used in later releases, designed by Roger Dean
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Subsidiary | |
Industry | Video game industry |
Fate | Merged |
Successor | XDev |
Founded | 3 July 1985 |
Founder |
Ian Hetherington David Lawson Jonathan Ellis |
Defunct | 22 August 2012 |
Headquarters | Liverpool, England |
Products |
Wipeout series Formula One series Colony Wars series |
Parent | Sony Computer Entertainment |
Website | www |
Psygnosis Limited was a video game developer and publisher headquartered at Wavertree Technology Park in Liverpool, England. It is formerly part of Sony Computer Entertainment Worldwide Studios. Founded in 1984 by Jonathan Ellis, Ian Hetherington and David Lawson, the company later became a wholly owned subsidiary of Sony Computer Entertainment, and at the time of its closure employed roughly 100 individuals comprising two development teams. Mick Hocking oversaw Studio Liverpool's operations as its last Group Studio Director, a position he continues to hold within Evolution Studios.
Studio Liverpool was the oldest and second largest development house within Sony Computer Entertainment Europe's stable of developers, and is best known for the Wipeout series of futuristic racing games, with the first instalment released on the original PlayStation in 1995. The studio is also known for the Formula One series of licensed racing games, and the Colony Wars series released on the original PlayStation. As Psygnosis, they were the original publishers of the Lemmings series.
Reports of Studio Liverpool's closure surfaced on 22 August 2012, with Edge quoting staff tweets. Staff were told the news by the vice president of Sony Worldwide Studios Europe, Michael Denny. In a press release Sony stated that after an assessment of all European studios, it had decided to close Studio Liverpool. Sony said that the Liverpool site would remain in operation, as it is home to a number of Sony World Wide Studios and SCEE Departments.