After two years in operation, NetEase is closing Bad Brain Game Studios, yet the 1980s-themed action-adventure known as “The Midnight Riders” might live on – the publisher is open to talks about a handover and continuation.
Studio head Sean Crooks announced on LinkedIn that Bad Brain Game Studios will close on November 17. The team had been developing The Midnight Riders and shared a public sizzle reel to showcase the work. According to the studio, the game is available for acquisition, and NetEase is willing to negotiate with publishers interested in taking the project forward.
Here is the substance of Crooks’s statement, preserved in full and set in italics:
“It’s with a heavy heart that we share that Bad Brain Game Studios will be closing its doors. Our last official day of operation will be November 17. Despite our continuing efforts to seek a new partner for the project, a path forward has yet to materialize. We are deeply grateful to NetEase Games for their support and for giving us the opportunity to explore every possible option. Our team poured everything into this journey, pushing creative and technical boundaries every day with passion, imagination, and craft. What we achieved together is lasting proof of this team’s extraordinary talent. The enthusiastic response our project received reflects that creativity and dedication directly. While the outcome is not what we had hoped for, I have seen firsthand that we succeeded in reaching players and peers who believed in what we were building. To those who supported the game, offered encouragement, and championed our vision, thank you.
As we close this chapter, the game and its underlying intellectual property are still available for acquisition or partnership. We and NetEase are open to discussions with publishers or studios who see potential in continuing its development. We strongly believe in what was created and would love to see this world reach players. To support our team as they move forward, we will also release a promotional video from the project, giving everyone the chance to showcase their work and open doors to new opportunities. If you’re looking for world-class developers, artists, or storytellers, please reach out. We would be proud to connect you with them.
Finally, I would like to express my deepest gratitude once again to everyone who supported us along the way. Your encouragement and belief in our project meant the world to us. While this chapter is ending sooner than we had hoped, the spirit of what we created at Bad Brain will live on through the incredible people who made it possible.”
Bottom line – there is still a path if the right partner steps in, which means The Midnight Riders may yet find a new home.
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