Prototype couldn't find a big enough audience, studio essentially closing down

Canadian-based Radical Entertainment is shutting down, according to a Tweet from an employee.

Canadian-based Radical Entertainment is essentially shutting down, the victim of lackluster Prototype 2 sales, Activision officials said today.

"Although we made a substantial investment in the Prototype IP, it did not find a broad commercial audience," according to an Activision statement. "Radical is a very talented team of developers, however, we have explored various options for the studio, including a potential sale of the business, and have made a difficult conclusion through the consultation process that the only remaining option is a significant reduction in staff. As such, some employees will remain working for Radical Entertainment supporting other existing Activision Publishing projects, but the studio will cease development of its own games going forward."

Rob Bridgett, senior audio director of Radical since 2007, tweeted "RIP Radical Entertainment 1991-2012" earlier today.

Calls to the studio were answered by an automated voice mail service.

Radical Entertainment, a subsidiary of Activision Blizzard, was formed in 1991 in Vancouver. Perhaps best known for their work on Prototype and Prototype 2, the company got their start as an indie developer working on games like 1992's Wayne's World, The Terminator and Brett Hull Hockey 95.

The company was acquired by Vivendi Universal Games in 2005, and went on to developer games like Scarface: The World is Yours and The Incredible Hulk: Ultimate Destruction. The company also had a short stint developing Crash Bandicoot games. In 2008, the studio became part of Activision Blizzard, where they went on to develop 2009's Prototype and Prototype 2 last year.