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It’s been just two weeks since Warner Bros. purchased developer/publisher Midway Games, and the impact of the acquisition is already hitting home in a very real way. Develop has confirmed that Midway Newcastle (Wheelman <span class="tooltip-content"> <span class='tooltip-tab-wrapper active' onclick='tooltiptab(this);'><span class='tooltip-tab xbox-360'></span></span> <span class='tooltip-tab-wrapper' onclick='tooltiptab(this);'><span class='tooltip-tab PS3'></span></span> <span class='tooltip-tab-wrapper' onclick='tooltiptab(this);'><span class='tooltip-tab PC'></span></span> <span class='tooltip-active tooltip2 xbox-360'><div class='tooltip-name'><a href="http://g4tv.com/games/xbox-360/36263/wheelman/index/" title="Wheelman">Wheelman</a></div><hr /><span class='tooltip-column'><ul> <li><h6><a href="http://g4tv.com/games/xbox-360/36263/wheelman/news/" title="Wheelman news">News</a></h6> (16)</li> <li><h6><a href="http://g4tv.com/games/xbox-360/36263/wheelman/news/" title="Wheelman news">Previews</a></h6> (3)</li> <li><h6><a href="http://g4tv.com/games/xbox-360/36263/wheelman/review/" title="Wheelman review">Review</a></h6></li> </ul></span><span class='tooltip-column'><ul> <li><h6><a href="http://g4tv.com/games/xbox-360/36263/wheelman/videos/" title="Wheelman videos">Videos</a></h6> (12)</li> <li><h6><a href="http://g4tv.com/games/xbox-360/36263/wheelman/screenshots-and-images/" title="Wheelman screenshots &amp; images">Screenshots</a></h6> (40)</li> <li><h6>Cheats and Walkthroughs</h6></li> </ul> </span><div style='clear:both;'></div></span> <span class='tooltip2 PS3'><div class='tooltip-name'><a href="http://g4tv.com/games/ps3/36264/wheelman/index/" title="Wheelman">Wheelman</a></div><hr /><span class='tooltip-column'><ul> <li><h6><a href="http://g4tv.com/games/ps3/36264/wheelman/news/" title="Wheelman news">News</a></h6> (16)</li> <li><h6><a href="http://g4tv.com/games/ps3/36264/wheelman/news/" title="Wheelman news">Previews</a></h6> (3)</li> <li><h6><a href="http://g4tv.com/games/ps3/36264/wheelman/review/" title="Wheelman review">Review</a></h6></li> </ul></span><span class='tooltip-column'><ul> <li><h6><a href="http://g4tv.com/games/ps3/36264/wheelman/videos/" title="Wheelman videos">Videos</a></h6> (12)</li> <li><h6><a href="http://g4tv.com/games/ps3/36264/wheelman/screenshots-and-images/" title="Wheelman screenshots &amp; images">Screenshots</a></h6> (40)</li> <li><h6>Cheats and Walkthroughs</h6></li> </ul> </span><div style='clear:both;'></div></span> <span class='tooltip2 PC'><div class='tooltip-name'><a href="http://g4tv.com/games/pc/41459/wheelman/index/" title="Wheelman">Wheelman</a></div><hr /><span class='tooltip-column'><ul> <li><h6><a href="http://g4tv.com/games/pc/41459/wheelman/news/" title="Wheelman news">News</a></h6> (14)</li> <li><h6><a href="http://g4tv.com/games/pc/41459/wheelman/news/" title="Wheelman news">Previews</a></h6> (3)</li> <li><h6><a href="http://g4tv.com/games/pc/41459/wheelman/review/" title="Wheelman review">Review</a></h6></li> </ul></span><span class='tooltip-column'><ul> <li><h6><a href="http://g4tv.com/games/pc/41459/wheelman/videos/" title="Wheelman videos">Videos</a></h6> (12)</li> <li><h6><a href="http://g4tv.com/games/pc/41459/wheelman/screenshots-and-images/" title="Wheelman screenshots &amp; images">Screenshots</a></h6> (40)</li> <li><h6><a href="http://g4tv.com/games/pc/41459/wheelman/screenshots-and-images/" title="Wheelman cheats &amp; walkthroughs">Cheats and Walkthroughs</a></h6> (4)</li> </ul> </span><div style='clear:both;'></div></span> </span><div class="arrow"></div> , Test Drive <span class="tooltip-content"> <span class='tooltip-tab-wrapper active' onclick='tooltiptab(this);'><span class='tooltip-tab xbox-360'></span></span> <span class='tooltip-tab-wrapper' onclick='tooltiptab(this);'><span class='tooltip-tab PC'></span></span> <span class='tooltip-tab-wrapper' onclick='tooltiptab(this);'><span class='tooltip-tab PSP'></span></span> <span class='tooltip-active tooltip2 xbox-360'><div class='tooltip-name'><a href="http://g4tv.com/games/xbox-360/31251/test-drive-unlimited/index/" title="Test+Drive+Unlimited">Test Drive Unlimited</a></div><hr /><span class='tooltip-column'><ul> <li><h6><a href="http://g4tv.com/games/xbox-360/31251/test-drive-unlimited/news/" title="Test+Drive+Unlimited news">News</a></h6> (2)</li> <li><h6>Previews</h6></li> <li><h6><a href="http://g4tv.com/games/xbox-360/31251/test-drive-unlimited/review/" title="Test+Drive+Unlimited review">Review</a></h6></li> </ul></span><span class='tooltip-column'><ul> <li><h6>Videos</h6></li> <li><h6>Screenshots</h6></li> <li><h6><a href="http://g4tv.com/games/xbox-360/31251/test-drive-unlimited/screenshots-and-images/" title="Test+Drive+Unlimited cheats &amp; walkthroughs">Cheats and Walkthroughs</a></h6> (79)</li> </ul> </span><div style='clear:both;'></div></span> <span class='tooltip2 PC'><div class='tooltip-name'><a href="http://g4tv.com/games/pc/36088/test-drive-unlimited/index/" title="Test+Drive+Unlimited">Test Drive Unlimited</a></div><hr /><span class='tooltip-column'><ul> <li><h6><a href="http://g4tv.com/games/pc/36088/test-drive-unlimited/news/" title="Test+Drive+Unlimited news">News</a></h6> (2)</li> <li><h6>Previews</h6></li> <li><h6><a href="http://g4tv.com/games/pc/36088/test-drive-unlimited/review/" title="Test+Drive+Unlimited review">Review</a></h6></li> </ul></span><span class='tooltip-column'><ul> <li><h6>Videos</h6></li> <li><h6>Screenshots</h6></li> <li><h6>Cheats and Walkthroughs</h6></li> </ul> </span><div style='clear:both;'></div></span> <span class='tooltip2 PSP'><div class='tooltip-name'><a href="http://g4tv.com/games/psp/36366/test-drive-unlimited/index/" title="Test+Drive+Unlimited">Test Drive Unlimited</a></div><hr /><span class='tooltip-column'><ul> <li><h6><a href="http://g4tv.com/games/psp/36366/test-drive-unlimited/news/" title="Test+Drive+Unlimited news">News</a></h6> (2)</li> <li><h6>Previews</h6></li> <li><h6><a href="http://g4tv.com/games/psp/36366/test-drive-unlimited/review/" title="Test+Drive+Unlimited review">Review</a></h6></li> </ul></span><span class='tooltip-column'><ul> <li><h6>Videos</h6></li> <li><h6>Screenshots</h6></li> <li><h6><a href="http://g4tv.com/games/psp/36366/test-drive-unlimited/screenshots-and-images/" title="Test+Drive+Unlimited cheats &amp; walkthroughs">Cheats and Walkthroughs</a></h6> (58)</li> </ul> </span><div style='clear:both;'></div></span> </span><div class="arrow"></div> ) has been shut down.

Evidently, Midway CEO Matt Booty made a personal appearance at the studio to deliver the news to the Newcastle team, although that probably didn't make it any easier to hear. On the other hand, the closure wasn't a total surprise either. Midway Newcastle wasn't included in Warner Bros.' acquisition, and the studio was given 10 days to find a buyer before it was closed for good.

Midway San Diego was also left on the table following the acquisition; however it was given 60 days to secure a buyer, giving it a bit more breathing room (but not much). I'm currently waiting to hear back from both studios about today’s announcement, so stay tuned.

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