Evolution Studios
British video-game developer best known for the MotorStorm series and Driveclub.
Last updated August 22, 2026
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Overview
Evolution Studios Ltd. was a British video-game developer based in Runcorn, Cheshire, and focused primarily on racing games for PlayStation platforms. The studio was founded in 1999 by Martin Kenwright and Ian Hetherington after Infogrames acquired Ocean Software, the publisher associated with their former studio, Digital Image Design. Kenwright departed Digital Image Design with six members of staff to establish Evolution Studios, which initially operated from Frodsham in Cheshire. The company’s early work included a personal-computer racing demonstration featuring multiple rally cars competing on a circuit and viewed from cockpit perspectives. The demonstration attracted Sony’s interest at a time when Sony was seeking a developer for a PlayStation 2 game connected to the World Rally Championship licence. This relationship gave Evolution a route into console development and established the studio’s long-term association with Sony platforms and motorsport-oriented games. Evolution became particularly identified with the MotorStorm franchise, a series built around off-road racing, varied vehicle types, aggressive competition and hazardous environments. The studio’s work helped position it as one of Sony’s specialist first-party racing developers. Its corporate structure also expanded beyond the main Runcorn studio: Evolution’s satellite studio, Bigbig Studios, operated from Warwickshire and was associated with the wider development group. Sony Computer Entertainment acquired Evolution Studios and Bigbig Studios in September 2007. Following the acquisition, founders Martin Kenwright and Ian Hetherington left the company. Co-founder Mick Hocking assumed responsibility for Evolution, Bigbig Studios and Studio Liverpool as Group Studio Director, and was later promoted to Vice President of the Studio Group in April 2011. Under Sony ownership, Evolution continued developing console racing titles and moved toward a new-generation online racing concept. The studio’s final game was Driveclub, developed for PlayStation 4. It was originally planned as a PlayStation 4 launch title but was delayed and eventually released in October 2014. Evolution had reportedly trademarked the Driveclub name years earlier while waiting for technology capable of supporting its intended design. The game became the studio’s principal focus during its later years, and Sony described subsequent staffing changes as part of an effort to concentrate the team on developing Driveclub as a service. On 23 March 2015, Sony confirmed that 55 Evolution employees were made redundant. Contemporary reports characterized the cuts as approximately half of the studio’s workforce. On 22 March 2016, Sony announced the closure of Evolution Studios. The closure ended Evolution’s operation as a Sony-owned developer, although much of the team continued working together elsewhere. On 11 April 2016, members of the former studio joined Codemasters and operated as Codemasters EVO. That development group was later renamed Codemasters Cheshire. After the disappointing sales of Onrush, members of the division, including game director Paul Rustchynsky, were affected by redundancies, and the group was shifted toward supporting other Codemasters projects. In May 2022, Codemasters Cheshire was merged into Criterion Games, an Electronic Arts subsidiary. Evolution Studios therefore survives primarily through the racing-development lineage carried by former staff and successor teams rather than as an active independent brand.
History
Evolution Studios was established in 1999 by Martin Kenwright and Ian Hetherington after the acquisition of Ocean Software by Infogrames affected the publishing structure around their former employer, Digital Image Design. Kenwright left Digital Image Design with six employees and created the new studio with a focus on racing software. The company was initially based in Frodsham, Cheshire, before becoming associated with Runcorn. An early racing demonstration played an important role in the studio’s development. The PC demo depicted several rally cars competing on a circuit and included cockpit viewpoints. Sony became interested in the demonstration because it was looking for a developer capable of producing a PlayStation 2 game based on the World Rally Championship licence. This connection led Evolution into console racing development and helped define its identity within the PlayStation ecosystem. The studio subsequently became known for racing games, most prominently the MotorStorm series. Its projects emphasized off-road competition, multiple vehicle classes and demanding environments, giving the developer a recognizable position within Sony’s portfolio. Evolution was not limited to a single facility: Bigbig Studios, a satellite studio in Warwickshire, operated alongside it within the broader development structure. In September 2007, Sony Computer Entertainment acquired both Evolution Studios and Bigbig Studios. The acquisition converted Evolution from an independent developer into a Sony first-party studio. Following the transaction, co-founders Kenwright and Hetherington departed. Mick Hocking, another Evolution co-founder, became Group Studio Director for Evolution, Bigbig Studios and Studio Liverpool. In April 2011, Hocking was promoted to Vice President of the Studio Group. Evolution’s last project was Driveclub, a racing game designed for PlayStation 4. The title was initially scheduled for the console’s launch but was delayed until October 2014. The studio stated that it had secured the Driveclub trademark almost a decade before release, while waiting for the technical capabilities needed to realize its concept. During the game’s later development, Sony characterized the studio’s direction as increasingly focused on Driveclub as an ongoing service. On 23 March 2015, 55 employees were dismissed from Evolution Studios. Reports indicated that the reduction represented approximately half of the workforce. The cuts were followed by the studio’s closure, announced by Sony on 22 March 2016. Although Evolution ceased to exist as a Sony studio, its personnel continued into a new organizational lineage. On 11 April 2016, members of the former team joined Codemasters as Codemasters EVO, later renamed Codemasters Cheshire. The successor group worked on Onrush, but disappointing sales led to further redundancies, including the departure of game director Paul Rustchynsky, and a move toward supporting other Codemasters titles. In May 2022, Codemasters Cheshire was merged into Criterion Games, which is owned by Electronic Arts. The Evolution Studios name is therefore defunct, but its development heritage continued through the teams and employees that moved first to Codemasters and later into Criterion Games.
- 2022
Codemasters Cheshire joins Criterion Games
[1]The successor development division is merged into Criterion Games, an Electronic Arts subsidiary.
- 2016
Sony closes the studio
[1]Sony announces the closure of Evolution Studios on 22 March.
- 2016
Former staff join Codemasters
[1]Members of the former Evolution team join Codemasters as Codemasters EVO on 11 April.
- 2015
Major staff reduction
[1]Sony confirms that 55 employees are made redundant as the studio focuses on Driveclub as a service.
- 2014
Driveclub is released
[1]Driveclub, originally planned as a PlayStation 4 launch title, is released in October after a delay.
- 2011
Mick Hocking is promoted
[1]Mick Hocking is promoted to Vice President of the Studio Group after leading Evolution, Bigbig Studios and Studio Liverpool as Group Studio Director.
- 2007
Sony acquires Evolution Studios
[1]Sony Computer Entertainment acquires Evolution Studios and Bigbig Studios in September, making Evolution part of Sony’s first-party development organization.
- 1999
Evolution Studios is founded
[1]Martin Kenwright and Ian Hetherington establish Evolution Studios after Kenwright leaves Digital Image Design with six staff members.
Products and positioning
Sony first-party racing-game developer specializing in visually ambitious off-road and online racing experiences.
Off-road racing video games
MotorStorm series
The MotorStorm series was Evolution Studios’ best-known franchise. It centered on off-road racing and used varied vehicle types and hazardous environments to create a more aggressive alternative to conventional circuit racing. The series established the studio’s reputation as a specialist PlayStation racing developer.
Online console racing game · 2014
Driveclub
Driveclub was Evolution Studios’ final game and was developed for PlayStation 4. It was intended to be a launch title but was delayed until October 2014. The project represented the studio’s later focus on a connected racing experience and was described by Sony as a service-oriented development priority during the studio’s final period.
Rally racing video game
World Rally Championship project
Evolution attracted Sony’s attention with an early PC racing demonstration featuring rally cars, cockpit views and circuit competition. Sony was interested in using the developer for a PlayStation 2 game based on the World Rally Championship licence. This project formed an important early link between Evolution and PlayStation racing development.
Brand decisions
2022
Merge the successor team into Criterion GamesM&ABackground
Codemasters Cheshire was the later organizational successor to the former Evolution team.
Action taken
In May 2022, Codemasters Cheshire was merged into Criterion Games, an Electronic Arts subsidiary.
Aftermath
The Evolution development lineage continued within Criterion Games rather than under the Evolution or Codemasters Cheshire names.
2016
Close Evolution StudiosStrategyBackground
Sony announced the closure of the Runcorn-based developer on 22 March 2016.
Action taken
Sony ended Evolution Studios’ operations as a first-party studio.
Aftermath
Members of the team moved to Codemasters, where they initially worked as Codemasters EVO and later Codemasters Cheshire.
2015
Refocus the studio on Driveclub as a serviceStrategyBackground
Sony sought to concentrate Evolution’s resources on continuing development of Driveclub as a service.
Action taken
Sony implemented a reduction of 55 staff members, described by reports as approximately half of the studio.
Aftermath
The restructuring preceded Sony’s announcement that Evolution Studios would close in March 2016.
2014
Release Driveclub after a launch delayProduct launchBackground
Driveclub was planned as a PlayStation 4 launch title but was not ready for the original launch window.
Action taken
Evolution and Sony delayed the game and released it in October 2014.
Aftermath
Driveclub became Evolution Studios’ final released game and the central focus of the studio’s later development effort.
2007
Join Sony’s first-party studio networkM&ABackground
Evolution Studios and its satellite studio Bigbig Studios were acquired by Sony Computer Entertainment in September 2007.
Action taken
Sony brought both studios under its ownership and integrated Evolution into its first-party development structure.
Aftermath
The founders departed, while Mick Hocking took responsibility for Evolution, Bigbig Studios and Studio Liverpool within Sony’s studio organization.
Recent events
- 2022
Codemasters Cheshire is merged into Criterion Games[1]
M&A · Leadership change
The successor team known as Codemasters Cheshire was merged into Criterion Games, an Electronic Arts subsidiary.
- 2016
Sony closes Evolution Studios[1]
Bankruptcy
Sony announced the closure of Evolution Studios on 22 March 2016, ending the studio’s operation as a Sony first-party developer.
- 2016
Former Evolution team joins Codemasters[1]
M&A · Leadership change
On 11 April 2016, members of the closed studio joined Codemasters and formed a development group initially known as Codemasters EVO.
- 2015
Sony confirms redundancies at Evolution Studios[1]
Leadership change · Other
Sony confirmed that 55 staff members were made redundant at Evolution Studios. Reports described the cuts as roughly half of the studio, while Sony said the restructuring was intended to focus the team on Driveclub as a service.
- 2014
Driveclub delayed beyond the PlayStation 4 launch[1]
Product launch · Product generation
Evolution’s Driveclub was originally planned as a PlayStation 4 launch title but was delayed and released in October 2014.
- 2007
Sony acquires Evolution Studios and Bigbig Studios[1]
M&A
Sony Computer Entertainment acquired Evolution Studios and its satellite studio Bigbig Studios, bringing the developers into Sony’s first-party network.
Sources1 sources
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