A playable prototype of Free Radical Design’s canceled first-person shooter, TimeSplitters 4, may have emerged online.
Reddit user Flimsy-Zebra3775 has reported that they saw a prototype listing on eBay for what looks to be TimeSplitters 4. They mentioned that the listing was posted by a reputable eBay seller, and that the latter was just as surprised as them about its existence.
The Reddit user mentioned that they asked the seller a lot of probing questions without giving it away. The seller claimed to have a friend who worked at Free Radical Design until November, 2008, a month before the studio originally shut down. They mentioned to the Reddit user that they will try and boot the prototype up, see what it is, and send them a video.
The seller sent the above screenshot to the Reddit user as evidence, which led to the latter purchasing the prototype. They have yet to receive it, though the seller did inform them that it only contained a single level.
TimeSplitters 4 was originally expected to be exclusive to the PlayStation 3. A teaser trailer on developer Free Radical Design’s website suggested that the the game was to be a light-hearted parody of other shooters. Amidst speculation regarding its plot following the events of TimeSplitters Future Perfect, an interview with David Doak in August, 2007, had hinted at a more gameplay-centric approach, potentially devoid of a story mode, akin to the original TimeSplitters and TimeSplitters 2. Later, in June, the developer confirmed that TimeSplitters 4 would feature a story mode. In 2008, the studio revealed that it would use the same engine as HAZE for TimeSplitter 4’s development, though this decision was later altered.
Development setbacks occurred when Free Radical Design faced financial difficulties. Crytek subsequently acquired the studio, raising hopes for the game’s continuation. Despite this, TimeSplitters 4 never saw the light of day, and in July 2014, Crytek sold the studio to Deep Silver’s parent company, Plaion (formerly Koch Media), while retaining the TimeSplitters IP until August 2018, when Plaion obtained full rights to the franchise.