Zombie Studios closes, employees found Builder Box

Seattle-based developer Zombie Studios has closed its doors after 21 years of making games.

The studio was perhaps best known for its Spec Ops series of the late ’90s, as well as recent hits Daylight and Blacklight: Retribution. The team even worked with the United States military on a series of training and recruitment titles.

In a letter on its website, the team explained the reason for the closure. 

"The owners of Zombie Studios are retiring and wish to thank you, our fans, for the years of support you have provided us," the post reads. "It has been awesome working with all the various technology and our fans, and producing fun games and technology of our own.

"We also wish to thank our employees, both present and past. Your dedication and passion to gamign is what Zombie was all about."

Unlike most studio closures, Zombie’s work will continue thanks to the foundation of a brand new developer Builder Box. Formed by Andy Kipling and Russell Nelson, the former director of production and technical director at Zombie Studios, the new company has acquired some of the work that had begun at Zombie.

As of January 1st, Builder Box also acquired the rights to Blacklight: Retribution, according to the new studio’s Facebook page.

"While ownership of the game has changed, the people behind the scenes who have been constantly contributing to the Blacklight universe for the last four years remains intact," the founders wrote.