• Posted June 21st, 2012 at 07:19 EDT by Mike Harradence
• 1 Comments

Crytek has thrown a bone to eager gamers awaiting the return of the TimeSplitters franchise, suggesting the first-person shooter could return in free-to-play form.

Speaking to VideoGamer, Crytek boss Cevat Yerli reiterated that he while he wished the company was working on a new TimeSplitters, the fact publishers aren’t interested in the IP means a regular retail release is out of the question.

“I wish we would develop it. We can’t develop it the way Free Radical had started it before we acquired them,” said Yerli.

"When we looked at it - and again, I love Timesplitters, I'm a huge Timesplitters fan particularly of the multiplayer part. I love the idea, I love the brand, I love everything - but the publishers don't. That's reality. And I don't want to spend our own money on the project in a retail business."

There’s still hope, however, that the series may make a comeback via Crytek’s free-to-play platform, GFACE – providing fans get behind the project.

“So let me say it this way: I love the picture of a TimeSplitters running on GFACE,” he added. “So if we get enough fans, being loud enough…”

Fans have already started a Facebook petition in support of getting TimeSplitters 4 released via Kickstarter. The group is looking to get at least 100,000 supporters behind it, and has already attracted the attention of some of the original developers of the series.