{"id":2297964,"date":"2026-02-24T18:53:37","date_gmt":"2026-02-24T18:53:37","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/?p=2297964"},"modified":"2026-02-24T18:53:37","modified_gmt":"2026-02-24T18:53:37","slug":"ex-radical-entertainment-hothead-games-devs-form-new-studio","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/ex-radical-entertainment-hothead-games-devs-form-new-studio\/","title":{"rendered":"Ex-Radical Entertainment, Hothead Games devs form new studio"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><\/p>\n<div data-module=\"content\">\n<p class=\"ContentParagraph ContentParagraph_align_left\" data-testid=\"content-paragraph\"><span class=\"ContentText ContentText_variant_bodyNormal\" data-testid=\"content-text\">Veteran developers from the defunct Radical Entertainment and Hothead Games studios have formed a new studio.<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"ContentParagraph ContentParagraph_align_left\" data-testid=\"content-paragraph\"><span class=\"ContentText ContentText_variant_bodyNormal\" data-testid=\"content-text\">As spotted by users on <\/span><span class=\"ContentText ContentText_variant_bodyNormal\" data-testid=\"content-text\"><a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" class=\"ContentText-BodyTextChunk ContentText-BodyTextChunk_link\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.reddit.com\/r\/GamingLeaksAndRumours\/comments\/1rcqler\/radical_entertainment_just_relaunched_their\/\">Reddit<\/a><\/span><span class=\"ContentText ContentText_variant_bodyNormal\" data-testid=\"content-text\"> yesterday, New Radical Games is pitched as a joint effort from developers of both defunct teams, according to the <\/span><span class=\"ContentText ContentText_variant_bodyNormal\" data-testid=\"content-text\"><a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" class=\"ContentText-BodyTextChunk ContentText-BodyTextChunk_link\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.newradical.ca\/\">official site<\/a><\/span><span class=\"ContentText ContentText_variant_bodyNormal\" data-testid=\"content-text\">. This includes Ian Wilkinson as CEO and Tim Bennison as COO.<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"ContentParagraph ContentParagraph_align_left\" data-testid=\"content-paragraph\"><span class=\"ContentText ContentText_variant_bodyNormal\" data-testid=\"content-text\">At the time of publication, it seems neither of the leads have shared a formal announcement. Wilkinson\u2019s <\/span><span class=\"ContentText ContentText_variant_bodyNormal\" data-testid=\"content-text\"><a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" class=\"ContentText-BodyTextChunk ContentText-BodyTextChunk_link\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/in\/ian-wilkinson-28658912?originalSubdomain=ca\">LinkedIn profile<\/a><\/span><span class=\"ContentText ContentText_variant_bodyNormal\" data-testid=\"content-text\">, however, shows the following copy as his current title: &#8220;Former Radical Entertainment, &amp; Hothead Games CEO co-founds New Radical Games Inc.&#8221; According to the experience tab on this profile, he\u2019s seemingly been the CEO and president of New Radical Games since December 2024.<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"ContentParagraph ContentParagraph_align_left\" data-testid=\"content-paragraph\"><span class=\"ContentText ContentText_variant_bodyNormal\" data-testid=\"content-text\">Wilkinson co-founded Radical Entertainment back in 1991. Then, he sold the company to Vivendi Games in 2006, and retired as CEO and president two years later. He then joined Hothead in 2009.<\/span><\/p>\n<p data-component=\"related-article\" class=\"RelatedArticle\"><span data-testid=\"related-article-title\" class=\"RelatedArticle-Title\">Related:<\/span><a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" class=\"RelatedArticle-RelatedContent\" href=\"https:\/\/www.gamedeveloper.com\/business\/kingdom-come-deliverance-director-steps-away-from-game-development\" target=\"_self\" data-discover=\"true\">Kingdom Come: Deliverance director steps away from game development<\/a><\/p>\n<p class=\"ContentParagraph ContentParagraph_align_left\" data-testid=\"content-paragraph\"><span class=\"ContentText ContentText_variant_bodyNormal\" data-testid=\"content-text\">On the other hand, Bennison worked with Wilkinson at Radical Entertainment as executive producer and VP technology, and joined Hothead as COO in 2020. His most recent tenure was serving as COO at Capcom Game Studio Vancouver.<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"ContentParagraph ContentParagraph_align_left\" data-testid=\"content-paragraph\"><span class=\"ContentText ContentText_variant_bodyNormal\" data-testid=\"content-text\">Radical Entertainment made a name for itself with games like <\/span><span class=\"ContentText ContentText_variant_bodyNormal\" data-testid=\"content-text\"><span class=\"ContentText-BodyTextChunk ContentText-BodyTextChunk_italic\">The Simpsons: Hit &amp; Run<\/span><\/span><span class=\"ContentText ContentText_variant_bodyNormal\" data-testid=\"content-text\">, <\/span><span class=\"ContentText ContentText_variant_bodyNormal\" data-testid=\"content-text\"><span class=\"ContentText-BodyTextChunk ContentText-BodyTextChunk_italic\">The Incredible Hulk: Ultimate Destruction<\/span><\/span><span class=\"ContentText ContentText_variant_bodyNormal\" data-testid=\"content-text\">, and the Prototype series. After being part of Vivendi Games, the studio then operated under Activision, with some of the latest credits including ports of <\/span><span class=\"ContentText ContentText_variant_bodyNormal\" data-testid=\"content-text\"><span class=\"ContentText-BodyTextChunk ContentText-BodyTextChunk_italic\">Prototype 2<\/span><\/span><span class=\"ContentText ContentText_variant_bodyNormal\" data-testid=\"content-text\"> and acting as a support team for Bungie on <\/span><span class=\"ContentText ContentText_variant_bodyNormal\" data-testid=\"content-text\"><span class=\"ContentText-BodyTextChunk ContentText-BodyTextChunk_italic\">Destiny<\/span><\/span><span class=\"ContentText ContentText_variant_bodyNormal\" data-testid=\"content-text\">.<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"ContentParagraph ContentParagraph_align_left\" data-testid=\"content-paragraph\"><span class=\"ContentText ContentText_variant_bodyNormal\" data-testid=\"content-text\">Meanwhile, Hothead Games filed for bankruptcy in December 2024, culminating an 18-year-long run. Some notable works include the Deathspank and Penny Arcade Adventures series.<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"ContentParagraph ContentParagraph_align_left\" data-testid=\"content-paragraph\"><span class=\"ContentText ContentText_variant_bodyNormal\" data-testid=\"content-text\">In a <\/span><span class=\"ContentText ContentText_variant_bodyNormal\" data-testid=\"content-text\"><a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" class=\"ContentText-BodyTextChunk ContentText-BodyTextChunk_link\" target=\"_self\" href=\"https:\/\/www.gamedeveloper.com\/production\/hothead-games-has-shut-down-after-almost-20-years\">farewell post via LinkedIn at the time<\/a><\/span><span class=\"ContentText ContentText_variant_bodyNormal\" data-testid=\"content-text\">, Wilkinson said that Hothead had been working on a playable prototype for a triple-A project. The timing, however, didn\u2019t line up as expected, as the studio was unable to secure contracts to develop mobile, PC, and console versions of the game.<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"ContentParagraph ContentParagraph_align_left\" data-testid=\"content-paragraph\"><span class=\"ContentText ContentText_variant_bodyNormal\" data-testid=\"content-text\">&#8220;Unfortunately, it took longer than we expected to secure contracts for these versions of the game,&#8221; he wrote at the time. &#8220;They were both ready to close two weeks ago and then the mobile publisher pulled out due to a change in strategy. Two weeks later the console publisher also pulled out. At that point our only remaining option was bankruptcy.&#8221;<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"ContentParagraph ContentParagraph_align_left\" data-testid=\"content-paragraph\"><span class=\"ContentText ContentText_variant_bodyNormal\" data-testid=\"content-text\">It remains to be seen what the new studio will be working on. According to the site\u2019s meta description, the team specializes in &#8220;remastering classic games by enhancing visuals, audio, and gameplay to revive beloved titles for modern hardware.&#8221; The services listed on the actual site are work for hire full game development, mobile and console, co-dev, porting, and remastering.<\/span><\/p>\n<p data-component=\"related-article\" class=\"RelatedArticle\"><span data-testid=\"related-article-title\" class=\"RelatedArticle-Title\">Related:<\/span><a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" class=\"RelatedArticle-RelatedContent\" href=\"https:\/\/www.gamedeveloper.com\/business\/amazon-shutting-down-ugc-dungeon-brawler-king-of-meat-after-six-months\" target=\"_self\" data-discover=\"true\">Amazon shutting down UGC dungeon brawler King of Meat after six months<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p><script defer=\"\" async=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/connect.facebook.net\/en_US\/sdk.js#xfbml=1&amp;version=v18.0\" data-ot-ignore=\"true\"><\/script><\/p>\n<p><em> \u2018 The preceding article may include information circulated by third parties \u2019 <\/em><\/p>\n<p><em> \u2018 Some details of this article were extracted from the following source www.gamedeveloper.com \u2019 <\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Veteran developers from the defunct Radical Entertainment and Hothead Games studios have formed a new studio. As spotted by users on Reddit yesterday, New Radical Games is pitched as a joint effort from developers of both defunct teams, according to the official site. This includes Ian Wilkinson as CEO and Tim Bennison as COO. At [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":2297965,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"jnews-multi-image_gallery":[],"jnews_single_post":[],"jnews_primary_category":[],"jnews_social_meta":[],"footnotes":""},"categories":[25172],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2297964","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-entertainment"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Ex-Radical-Entertainment-Hothead-Games-devs-form-new-studio.png","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2297964","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2297964"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2297964\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2297966,"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2297964\/revisions\/2297966"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2297965"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2297964"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2297964"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2297964"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}