APB and Crackdown dev collapses

Realtime Worlds, developer of ABP, has gone into administration – the first word coming earlier this afternoon from an employee via Twitter.

The news comes after 60 staff were made redundant at the troubled studio last week.

Speaking to Eurogamer this afternoon under condition of anonymity, a source close to the developer revealed that RTW CEO – and former Take 2 boss – Gary Dale flew into Scotland earlier today to break the bad news to staff.

The source added that the APB team has been "given until Friday to clear their desks" – mirroring the situation of those working on MyWorld last week. The US office in Boulder, Colorado is also believed to have been "stripped down of staff".

Senior management – including some already axed from the company last week – are understood to have been made aware of the move, and Dale's visit, via email yesterday.

Further employee chatter on Twitter this afternoon suggests moves are currently being touted to retain a core team of staff to support online game APB.

Eurogamer attempted to contact the studio for clarification, but was told initially by a representative: "All management are in a meeting – there's no-one you can speak to". We've just been called back and told to direct all enquiries to the administrator, Begbies Traynor Group - we'll update with more information when we have it.

Realtime Worlds was understood to be close to completing social networking project MyWorld, in addition to the recently launched online game APB. Both games will likely be sold on as part of the administration process.