How a failed PlayStation project birthed a skateboarding phenomenon
In short: In 1998, Neversoft was nearly out of money. But a desperate meeting with Activision turned a cancelled Sony project into a prototype that would define a generation of gaming and launch one of the most successful franchises in history.
Founded in July 1994 by Joel Jewett, Mick West, and Chris Ward, Neversoft spent its early years navigating a series of cancellations. The studio initially worked on Skeleton Warriors for Playmates Toys, but by 1997, projects with Sony and Crystal Dynamics had collapsed, shrinking the team to just twelve employees. The studio was essentially searching for a way to survive while shopping its proprietary technology to potential partners.
The turning point arrived in January 1998. Facing financial exhaustion, the developers met with Activision, who needed a way to redevelop a failed internal project called Apocalypse. Neversoft’s existing engine, originally developed for a cancelled game called Big Guns, proved perfect for the task. During this period, Activision requested a prototype for a skateboarding game. The resulting hit, Tony Hawk's Pro Skater, released in 1999, was so successful that Activision acquired the studio later that year.
Neversoft’s legacy became a cycle of massive hits and eventual consolidation. The studio expanded to over 150 employees, managing dual teams to develop titles like the western action-adventure Gun alongside the Tony Hawk series. They later took over the Guitar Hero franchise, producing hits like Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock. However, after the poor performance of Guitar Hero: Warriors of Rock in 2010, the studio's focus shifted to supporting Call of Duty. On July 10, 2014, exactly twenty years after its founding, Neversoft was merged with Infinity Ward and officially made defunct.
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- Summary by Intellect · source: Neversoft
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