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Rumored Crackdown 2 dev officially opens

Scottish developer Ruffian announces work on unannounced title for "major publisher" that will feature vehicles, minigames, in-game rewards for gaming feats.

Shortly before the holidays, regional industry site ScottishGames.biz revealed that several former technology developers for Crackdown had formed a new studio, Ruffian Games. Speculation quickly followed that a sequel to the 2007 Xbox 360-exclusive hit, which has sold nearly 750,000 copies in North America according to the NPD Group, might be in the works.

Today, Ruffian officially opened for business. In a brief press release, the company announced it is crafting an "action" game under the terms of "a development contract with a major publisher." No specific companies, platforms, or titles were mentioned, but the studio did say it would focus on online play, with equal emphasis on "co-operative and competitive" multiplayer.

Other clues about Ruffian's mystery project--or projects--are found on the company's job listing page. The Dundee, Scotland-based shop is hiring for 21 positions, including three senior mission designers and another senior designer to help craft "gripping online team based multiplayer."

A listing for senior designer - game direction and gameplay setup specifically mentions that the unnamed game(s) will feature "vehicles and weaponry using [a] proprietary editor." Ruffian is also taking applications for a senior designer to create "challenging-yet-fun" in-game minigames that will yield "a plentiful variety of rewards for impressive gaming skills."

Finally, engineer position listings revealed that Ruffian is using Havok middleware, a physics technology used in dozens of games--including the original Crackdown.

76 Comments

  • Edot0

    Posted Mar 10, 2009 10:50 am GMT

    cool cant wait.

  • sonofabear17

    Posted Jan 24, 2009 12:04 pm GMT

    Ill be honest I was originally intrested in this game for the halo 3 beta and then I started watching some ideos and I got really excited about crackdown for the acctual game.... to make a long story short I got Halo 3 7 months later and havent played it nearly as much as I played crackdown (I played halo alot) Anyway cant wait for Crackdown 2 its gonna be amazing

  • woofie13

    Posted Jan 23, 2009 3:59 am GMT

    what? no halo 4 beta details?

  • snake3rules

    Posted Jan 21, 2009 2:43 pm GMT

    first was great, a sequel should be brilliant, if it fixes the small problems, and maybe adds a few new types of super-powers... but i have to agree with whoever said this seems like a brand new IP, and not a sequel to crackdown (which one would assume theyd just announce and not be so shady about)

  • Generalmojo

    Posted Jan 21, 2009 12:58 pm GMT

    is this going to be bundled with a alan wake beta or something?

  • GANGSTASAN

    Posted Jan 21, 2009 12:18 pm GMT

    Yes, good news for 360 owners.

  • jimbob_1977

    Posted Jan 21, 2009 12:11 pm GMT

    woo hoo, another sequel in the works, bring on the new IPs!!

  • SouL-Tak3R

    Posted Jan 21, 2009 12:05 pm GMT

    That would be awesome. I definitely loved the first one.

  • nappan

    Posted Jan 21, 2009 11:27 am GMT

    Fantastic... a new crackdown that isn't a first run game? Take the concepts of that superpowered feel and up the open world quality to Saints Row 2 or beyond... that could cement the franchise.

  • Trogeton

    Posted Jan 21, 2009 10:13 am GMT

    same here, I loved crackdown... MAKE ANOTHER ONE!!!

  • Zazalon

    Posted Jan 21, 2009 10:12 am GMT

    Crackdown is open world madness, I want a new one to be made, NOW

  • smash3230

    Posted Jan 21, 2009 10:07 am GMT

    The only problem is is that say gta 4 for instance because of competitive mp the game went to hell
    i hope they live up to their expectations with crackdown 2
    agree?

  • OneBadLT123

    Posted Jan 21, 2009 9:48 am GMT

    Awesome I always wanted a new Crackdown.

  • rulo_rezn0r

    Posted Jan 21, 2009 9:34 am GMT

    amazing news
    i played the demo only, but it was a complet blast!

  • magusat999

    Posted Jan 21, 2009 9:20 am GMT

    I'd like to work on the project; as a senior *** whomping technitian. Anytime I see someone trying to code in multiplayer / online challenges in singleplayer mode it will be my duty to stomp them as flat as a rubber keyboard.

  • Chimpman_Z

    Posted Jan 21, 2009 9:18 am GMT

    The underrated Crackdown was overshadowed by the Halo 3 Beta, but they did accomplish one thing. They got a lot of copies into gamers' hands. It's time to cash in on all that publicity now. Come on. Bring me my Crackdown 2! I need CRACK...down. eheh...

  • richioso

    Posted Jan 21, 2009 8:51 am GMT

    How is this story supposed to be about crackdown 2, its so obviously for a new IP.

    Online team auto combat

  • SpideR_CentS

    Posted Jan 21, 2009 8:50 am GMT

    I think Crackdown was one of the most underrated games this gen. The game is sooo much fun. It is one of the only games to get the "super hero" vibe right. Awesome game, hope they make a 2nd.

  • BigDaddy973

    Posted Jan 21, 2009 8:45 am GMT

    I just hope they do it right

  • king_bobo

    Posted Jan 21, 2009 8:18 am GMT

    To be honest there is a lot that they could have improved on in Crackdown. With the information provided, the game would be very different to the original Crackdown (minigames? competitive multiplayer?), and it sounds like it would be great whether it was a sequel or wasn't. Either way, although we don't have much info as of yet, I'm going to look out for this one

  • Lateraliss

    Posted Jan 21, 2009 8:09 am GMT

    I'm with Knetworx, I bought crackdown for the Halo 3 beta, just because a few of my buddies did. They ignored Crackdown and I spent most of the time playing Crackdown. So much fun jumping over buildings. Now if only they could put a storyline to the game, it would be a game of the year contender.

  • Gans_II

    Posted Jan 21, 2009 7:41 am GMT

    Crackdown was great, but I feel they could of definatly done a lot more with it. Hopefully that will be the case with the second, if this is actually Crackdown 2.

  • swisdwag

    Posted Jan 21, 2009 7:39 am GMT

    Funny, I might be one of the only ones that bought Crackdown for Crackdown. I didn't even know the Halo 3 beta was in it until I opened the box. Crackdown is a very fun and very addicting game. I think I may play it in a bit. I just wish they wouldn'tve abandoned it after that brief DLC. They could've done so much more with that game.

  • knetworx

    Posted Jan 21, 2009 7:19 am GMT

    A lot of people just got Crackdown for the Halo 3 beta, and completely overlooked a really great game. Personally, I enjoyed Crackdown more than I did Halo 3.

  • makemeweak

    Posted Jan 21, 2009 7:18 am GMT

    I'd like to play a Crackdown sequel - it's a very addicting and fun game.

  • jadefury27

    Posted Jan 21, 2009 6:36 am GMT

    this is welcome news. the first was a huge surprise and one of the most fun titles that year. hopefully they expand on the customization of your player and more multiplayer.

  • george999819

    Posted Jan 21, 2009 6:12 am GMT

    LEATHERFACE1550: "I hope if a crackdown 2 hit stores that they will look in their hearts and realease it multiplatform..........."

    Crackdown is published by Microsoft Game Studios so it will never be on the PS3. I would definitely buy the sequel if one is released. I bought Crackdown for the game itself, not the Halo 3 beta. I had a lot of fun with the game and got 1250/1250 achievement points. After all those months of searching, boy was finding that 500th agility orb satisfying. If they do a release a sequel, I hope it has 1000 agility orbs to collect. Boy, would that be hell!

  • Viron_Berserker

    Posted Jan 21, 2009 5:47 am GMT

    Yeah Food it was pretty good, I got it for the game and never played the beta all but once.

  • swamptick

    Posted Jan 21, 2009 5:44 am GMT

    You are dead wrong Edible and I think you are trolling. Crackdown was an amazing game. I never played the Halo 3 beta but I loved Crackdown. I doubt you have many friends, much less friends who 'all bought Crackdown for the Halo 3 beta and never played it afterward.'

  • swamptick

    Posted Jan 21, 2009 5:42 am GMT

    More Crackdown please!

  • TTDog

    Posted Jan 21, 2009 5:17 am GMT

    Then your friends missed out on one of the best games of the year.

  • EdibleFood posted Jan 21, 2009 3:32 am GMT (does not meet display criteria. sign in to show)

    EdibleFood

    Posted Jan 21, 2009 3:32 am GMT (hide)

    The reason this game sold was because that was the only way that you could get the halo 3 beta.... I know thats why ALL of my friends got it and they basically never played it afterwords

  • EdibleFood posted Jan 21, 2009 3:31 am GMT (does not meet display criteria. sign in to show)

    EdibleFood

    Posted Jan 21, 2009 3:31 am GMT (hide)

    Uggggggggg

  • kerrbee64

    Posted Jan 21, 2009 3:13 am GMT

    Crackdown was a massive seller...while it was a good enough game, you have to remember lots bought it for the halo 3 beta and as soon as that finished, 1000's of games were traded-in.

    Saying that tho...to totally contradict my statement...i do really want to see a sequel

  • al-128

    Posted Jan 21, 2009 3:07 am GMT

    I hope there is a crackdown 2, just hopefully more variety then kill x amount of bad guys. No, the races don't count as variety

  • GeigerdolylWodd

    Posted Jan 20, 2009 11:18 pm GMT

    There are two things on my wish list for Crackdown 2 assuming it is Crackdown 2 they are working on. Give us more interiors for the buildings the last one the buildings were mostly window dressing, nice to look at but most of them you could not even enter they were mostly glorified enemy spawn points.

    That's other thing that would be really cool if the enemies would actually drive to the building you're at after being called up by the as of yet unflanked bad guys, and made their way up or down the stairs to group up with them, and you could hear their conversations sans walkie talkie so you'd know how they are coordinating.

    A tightly scripted story not really do able unless there are multiple mcguffins that drive said story forward and serve a purpose that is readily available, realized, and useful to the player. With that being said I dont expect health kits to be considered one of them since you've got regenerative armor. What exactly happened to Realtime Worlds? I mean they made crackdown and we haven't heard from them since they were an upstart too.

  • GeigerdolylWodd

    Posted Jan 20, 2009 11:10 pm GMT

    LEATHERFACE1550
    Posted Jan 21, 2009 12:46 am CT

    I hope if a crackdown 2 hit stores that they will look in their hearts and realease it multiplatform...........

    I know it might be next to impossible but what if it was also crossplatform compatible betwixt PS3 and 360? eh?

  • LEATHERFACE1550

    Posted Jan 20, 2009 10:46 pm GMT

    I hope if a crackdown 2 hit stores that they will look in their hearts and realease it multiplatform...........

  • ImYourStalker

    Posted Jan 20, 2009 10:44 pm GMT

    I'm surprised that businesses are still actually being opened right now.

  • IIHitandRunII

    Posted Jan 20, 2009 10:15 pm GMT

    Ya Crackdown was a really good game, but still can't wait to know what will pop up.....

  • hatieshorrer

    Posted Jan 20, 2009 8:49 pm GMT

    I believe the first crackdown was a million saler with rave reviews so why not a sequel.

  • Pete5506

    Posted Jan 20, 2009 8:43 pm GMT

    Loved the 1st game, I hope this one tops it

  • CharlieFubar

    Posted Jan 20, 2009 8:11 pm GMT

    the first one was fun but the missions were petty... only sold that much because of the halo 3 online beta promise... but i hope they make another with better story/gameplay elements

  • OfficialBed

    Posted Jan 20, 2009 7:33 pm GMT

    wicked...first one was pretty fun

  • nintendokid

    Posted Jan 20, 2009 7:18 pm GMT

    Whatever they do, keep it cartoony, make it a whole new unique style. Seriously, I am sick of every other game having the same realistic, wasteland, destroyed beauty, gray/brown tone, Unreal engine. Change it up for God's sake! Gears used to be unique. Now ever frickin' game looks like Gears! Why don't we all dress the same, eat the same things, drive the same car and do the same things in life...how uninspiring.

  • captaincheese77

    Posted Jan 20, 2009 7:13 pm GMT

    I loved the first game, the lack of story was probably the right thing to do. I can't see any way they could have fit a full storyline around the gameplay, & any serious attempts would probably have dragged the game down by making you kill the bosses in a specific way or funneling you into specific routes to reach them. Instead you had a lot more freedom, the narrrator just told you who your target was & gave you a little background, then left you to work things out for yourself.

  • halosniper52

    Posted Jan 20, 2009 6:57 pm GMT

    I liked the game and all and hope there will be a 2nd one. But they really need to work on it since ya as some already said problems with the story, missions, and it did get boring after a bit. Still tho I think that if they work hard on it really make some changes they can make it real good.

  • ZonaBoy89

    Posted Jan 20, 2009 6:48 pm GMT

    yeah that guy below is right the story had no depth to it and the missions got very repetitive after a while. The gameplay itself wasnt bad but i thought it looked too cartoonish. The only reason it sold that much was because of the Halo 3 Beta

  • JDWolfie

    Posted Jan 20, 2009 6:28 pm GMT

    The first game's missions/story was horrible. Go there, kill that guy. Way too many orbs, did not collect all of them. If any thug gets in your way kill em. You powered up once in a while. I was originally gonna buy this game specifically for Crackdown. I was glad they added that beta in because it was a pretty big let-down.

  • jtparsons54

    Posted Jan 20, 2009 5:48 pm GMT

    I also paid full price for this game originally (yes, mainly for the Halo 3 beta). Turned out the game was actually awesome. I roamed the city for hours tracking down every last orb and I loved fun simplicity about it all.

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