TimeSplitters composer leaves Free Radical successor ‘after 20 years’

TimeSplitters and GoldenEye composer Graeme Norgate has left Dambuster Studios after 20 years of employment across multiple iterations of the studio.

Nottingham-based Dambuster’s routes trace back to Free Radical Design, which was acquired by Crytek in 2009, and then transferred its staff to Deep Silver‘s newly formed Dambuster Studios in 2014.

Norgate started his games career in the early 90s at Rare. He is best known for his soundtracks for the likes of Blast Corps and GoldenEye 007, which he co-composed with Grant Kirkhope.

At Free Radical Norgate created the soundtracks for all three TimeSplitters games, plus Second Sight and Haze.

Norgate said in a statement: “I will miss the people and the friends I’ve made, there’s nothing more I love than to be surrounded by geniuses. I will miss you but it’s time for a change and it’s nothing personal.

“I wish you success and more than anything steady and constant employment for the future. I’m proud of Free Radical and thankful for Deep Silver for keeping the place alive and believing in the talent that was still there months after Crytek stopped paying salary in 2004.”

Deep Silver’s partner label THQ Nordic announced in August that it has started work on TimeSplitters 4 with series designer Steve Ellis.

Norgate told VGC at the time: “I’m really happy it’s finally got off the ground, 14 years since the last release. Let’s hope Steve decides to get the old band back together!”