Crytek UK has moved to quash fresh rumors that TimeSplitters 4 is currently in development at the Nottingham-based studio.
Speaking to CVG, the company – formally Free Radical Design – offered a rather humorous statement on the matter:
“For Timesplitters 4, with ever spiralling development costs, massive teams and endless crunch we decided on a more radical development strategy.
“In short, the experiment was to implement the infinite monkey theorem. With cloning being a far too expensive option, we spent all of the development budget on buying monkeys on the black market.
“Those seven monkeys are now sat in a room with typewriters and lots of mirrors, and we fully expect Timesplitters 4 to be finished soon. Rumours are that they haven’t written any code but just tease the press from time to time. Those damn monkeys.
“PS: anyone got any bananas?”
Fortunately CVG pushed for a statement containing less monkeys, to which the studio replied: “No, it’s not in development.”
Internet rumors have suggested TimeSplitters 4 will be released for next-generation platforms, with the game said to have been in the works as far back as 2008.
Earlier this week the chaps at OXM UK reported that sources close to the mag have seen the shooter in action.