Sega's San Francisco studio responsible for the "Iron Man 2" movie's game tie-in will close it's doors following a week of rumors about the developers' fates. Previously known as Secret Level, the independent studio was purchased by Sega in 2006 and went on to produce "Golden Axe: Beast Rider." The group's history appears to end with Tony Stark though.
"Sega of America is sad to announce the closure of Sega Studios San Francisco," the company said in an official statement, according to Gamasutra. "It is an immensely talented studio and we wish all the best to all of the staff in all their future endeavors."
"Iron Man 2" will reportedly still launch on schedule in conjunction with Jon Favreau and Robert Downey Jr.'s film, but the mind behind the game will have to look elsewhere for their next projects. The move may be part of a changing overall strategy at Sega, which emphasized its focus on game development outside of its own studios.
"Moving forward, Sega will continue to pursue external development opportunities all over the world and will continue to grow the renowned Sega brand," the announcement explained.
It's never fun to see a studio scrapped just a few years after being acquired by a big player like Sega. The last year has been a tough one for former independent studios, though, as companies like EA and Sega have readjusted their strategies.
Do you still expect good things from "Iron Man 2"? Does the news about Sega's San Francisco studio surprise you? Share your reactions in the comment section below.