GameSpot may receive revenue from affiliate and advertising partnerships for sharing this content and from purchases through links.

Brash Entertainment in trouble

Game publisher will lay off more than 20, is reportedly looking to ditch rights and unload unfinished games; Superman, Clash of the Titans among projects up in the air.

61 Comments

It's been a bad year for Brash Entertainment. The upstart publisher has seen its slate of games based on movie and TV properties such as Jumper and Alvin & The Chipmunks stagnate at retail, while losing a cofounder in May and another last month.

Even with that reduced executive headcount, Brash apparently is having trouble making ends meet. Variety is reporting that the company laid off 20 employees this week and is looking to unload games in development to other publishers and return licenses to their rights holders. Although Brash raised $400 million in funding, the Hollywood trade paper reports that Brash has been able to use only part of that money, and now finds itself in a cash crunch.

Despite the hard times, Brash still has games on the way. The publisher said that it was still planning to release Six Flags Fun Park next month, and the game adaptation of the horror film Saw next year.

That leaves a handful of other projects up in the air. According to Variety, the previously teased Factor 5 game the publisher had up its sleeve was based on DC Comics' Superman. Other games reportedly in development include Tale of Desperaux, Prison Break, Night at the Museum 2, Clash of the Titans, and 300.

[UPDATE]: A Brash Entertainment representative confirmed for GameSpot that the company will be laying off "over 20" employees across all departments.

Got a news tip or want to contact us directly? Email news@gamespot.com

Join the conversation
There are 61 comments about this story
61 Comments  RefreshSorted By 
  • 61 results
  • 1
  • 2
GameSpot has a zero tolerance policy when it comes to toxic conduct in comments. Any abusive, racist, sexist, threatening, bullying, vulgar, and otherwise objectionable behavior will result in moderation and/or account termination. Please keep your discussion civil.

Avatar image for MiltoxBeyond
MiltoxBeyond

175

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 0

Jumper would be cool... if it actually had like a full world to travel with no load times and the ability to teleport... not that it can be pulled off to make it seem like real life with current hardware... but that would be pretty cool...

Upvote • 
Avatar image for Axionus
Axionus

25

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 0

Hey hey, now just because a game is based off a movie doesn't make it bad. I mean look at Golden Eye. But still... Alvin and the Chipmunks and Six Flags Fun Park?

Upvote • 
Avatar image for 5FingersOfDeath
5FingersOfDeath

1114

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 0

A Jumper game... what are they thinking.

Upvote • 
Avatar image for Media_Mind
Media_Mind

1202

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 0

...

Upvote • 
Avatar image for Skull-Fire
Skull-Fire

2267

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 5

User Lists: 0

Why do they keep trying to make games based on movies? No matter who makes them, they very rarely turn out even half decent. SAW will be a massive failure, how do they expect it to be good? Seriously. Prison Break might work especially if they base it around Season 2, S1 might possibly be ok... but still very doubtful.

Upvote • 
Avatar image for gpyott
gpyott

171

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 0

I agree - pulling off a good licensed game is very, very tough and a line up like that does not help matters. I hope they are able to pull through and maybe even secure an original IP or two.

Upvote • 
Avatar image for SentientGames
SentientGames

633

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 9

User Lists: 0

It's never good to hear about people losing their jobs, but publishers and devs need to wake up. I mean seriously - how do you expect to make a living off Jumper and Alvin & The Chipmunks? Please stop making movie tie-ins.

Upvote • 
Avatar image for buzzguy
buzzguy

1602

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 0

Man, most licensed games turn-out really bad. Maybe another game based on Superman would have been ok, but we can all live without those other titles. Sucks hearing about layoffs, though.

Upvote • 
Avatar image for markharris31
markharris31

332

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 0

Did anyone expect them to succeed with that game lineup? Terrible, just terrible.

Upvote • 
Avatar image for mariomusicmaker
mariomusicmaker

1426

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 7

User Lists: 0

300 the game, that could have potential in the right devs hands... they are not the right ones btw...

Upvote • 
Avatar image for box0rocks
box0rocks

1006

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 0

OH NO this wont be good

Upvote • 
  • 61 results
  • 1
  • 2