Link: http://www.ign.com/articles/2015/03/04/simcity-developer-maxis-emeryville-closed-by-ea I'm pretty sure Maxis quit existing as an "independent" studio a long time ago... good thing SimCity is likely not going anywhere soon.
Yeah, EA bought them a long time ago. They ceased to exist as an independent studio long, long ago. Now they've just ceased to exist. The brand will live on, for a while, I suppose. Just another day at EA. You can make some of the best-selling computer games of all time, but "what have ye done for me lately?"
Real good memories of old back in the day, but it's been a while, that im not really going to miss Maxis. On top of that, i have little to no respect for EA which doesnt help things.
Remember them back in the day but for me its sadder when other retro companies like RARE and others cease. As Shaun said they ceased to be an indie company years back so its not exactly a sad moment
Sad to see Maxis get shut down, but after the last Sim City, it was clear that Maxis had already left us anyway. I look forward to seeing if Cities:Skylines, coming out next Tuesday, can pick up their spiritual torch. City management games are a genre I really would like to see moved over to the iPad. I know there are free-to-play games that have similar mechanics but that's not the same thing.
Don't forget: - Origin Systems (Ultima, Wing Commander) - Dreamworks Interactive/EA LA/Danger Close (Medal Of Honor) - Black Box Games (Skate, Need For Speed) - NuFX/EA Chicago (NBA Street) - Mythic Entertainment/EA Mythic (Dark Age Of Camelot, Warhammer Online) - Phenomic (The Settlers) - Pandemic Studios (Star Wars: Battlefront, Full Spectrum Warrior, Destroy All Humans, Mercenaries) - Playfish (SimCity Social, Sims Social) Probably others, too. They've killed more legendary studios/IP than most companies will ever create in their lifetime.
Ugh, didnt know that there are so many more beside the ones which were already mentioned. Thanks, Shaun. Man, it's so terrible to look at this. Great companies, great memories... Same here, buddy. Played Theme Hospital and Syndicate Wars a lot in my childhood. Such awesome games.