Gameplay footage from an internal prototype for the canceled first-person shooter, TimeSplitters 4, has been shared by a former developer.
The former Free Radical Design developer took to LinkedIn to share gameplay footage from what appears to an internal prototype of Timesplitters 4. The post has since been removed, though the gameplay footage can be seen below.
The footage includes snippets from a series of multiplayer matches across different maps. The art style looks quite different from its predecessors, and the game, or what’s left of it, appears to resemble the likes of Fortnite.
Recently, Reddit user Flimsy-Zebra3775 had reported that they had seen a prototype listing on eBay for what looked 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.
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.