TimeSplitters 2 Easter Egg "Just A Joke" According To THQ Nordic

Last week, SpellForce 3: Fallen God released on PC. Players were tickled to discover that there are several collectible in-game items that were also Easter eggs referring to upcoming and already released THQ Nordic games. Games referenced by these items include Biomutant, Spongebob Squarepants: Battle For Bikini Bottom, Gothic Remake, and TimeSplitters 2 Remake. Many fans took this reference to be a direct hint that the game, of which there have been rumors about a remake, might be making a comeback.

Translated from French, the item's description reads: "It’s finally coming! The iconic shooter, which has stood the test of time to join the era of modern games." But according to a THQ Nordic spokesperson who spoke with Eurogamer, the TimeSplitters 2 Remake box being sold in-game was just meant to be a joke.

"This is just an innocent Easter egg," the spokesperson told Eurogamer. "The vendor in the game is a character known especially for not telling the truth." THQ Nordic also told Eurogamer that the boxes shown for Biomutant and Gothic Remake are jokes as well. Luckily, as far as we know both Biomutant and Gothic are still in production according to statements from THQ earlier this year.

The future of TimeSplitters as a franchise is currently still up in the air. THQ Nordic's parent company Embracer Group does own the rights to it, and a comeback has been rumored. In 2019, THQ Nordic hired former Rare and Free Radical Design veteran Steve Ellis to work on the next TimeSplitters game, but there haven't been any new announcements since. It seems that another part of Embracer Group may be handling whatever future TimeSplitters projects that exist.

When asked for more information, the THQ Nordic spokesperson said the company could not speak for the TimeSplitters franchise as it was not the specific company working on it, if it exists at all. So for now, TimeSplitters fans, don't hold your breath. It looks like there won't be any real news about a remake or the series' future any time soon.