As the 30-year-old studio behind many innovative and beloved video games shuts down, its founders, fans and designers discuss what made it so specialLate last month, Warner Bros announced it was closing three of its game development studios in a “strategic change of direction”: WB Games San Diego, Player First Studios, and Monolith Productions. At a time when the games industry is racked with layoffs and studio closures, the barrage of dispiriting headlines can be numbing. But the shutdown of Monolith cut through the noise, sparking fresh shock and outrage at the industry’s slash and burn approach to cost cutting. There are numerous reasons for this, but among them was a pervading belief that Monolith would be around forever. “I don’t think I ever really considered the possibility that it would shut down one day,” says Garrett Price, one of Monolith’s seven founding members.True to its name, Monolith was a singular presence. Founded in 1994, it was a prolific developer whose games d...
Warner Bros. announced the closure of Monolith Productions, sparking outrage due to the studio's long-standing reputation and unique approach to game development. Founded by former Edmark employees, Monolith prioritized creating games they personally found "cool" without focusing on market trends. Early success came with the acquisition of Q Studios and the release of *Blood*, leading to a focus on FPS titles, including the critically acclaimed *The Operative: No One Lives Forever* and *F.E.A.R.*
