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Blur is a arcade-style racing and destruction derby style game made in 2010 for Windows, PlayStation 3 and the Xbox 360, but was discontinued in 2010 due to Activision shutting down the developers of the game. The developer of Blur (Bizarre Creations) was owned and shut down by Activision leading to the shut down of Blur. Blur is currently off sale and unavailable to play multiplayer. The only way to obtain Blur currently is through the sie MyAbandonWare or as a second hand copy. Sites like MyAbandonWare distribute these lost games while stepping on a blurry gray area of the law in the name of [[video game preservation]]. Although in some places a gray area, in some places it is completely illegal, but most people do not care because they say it is morally right to preserve video games even if it breaks a law. Also the punishment is negligible and rarely given. Blur as a game was stylized as ''blur.'' Blur also included a lot of licensed cars such as the Ford Transit and Dodge Viper. Blur was heavily focused on vehicular combat. You have 3 slots and 8 possible powerups. 5 of the powerups are weapons and the rest are more miscellaneous, all of these powerups are shunt, bolt, shield, repair, boost, barge, mine and shock. Blur also had many places inspired by real locations. Blur had many multiplayer modes including split-screen, LAN and online. All platforms gave Blur favourable reviews. One thing that never made it into the game is the "double tap" feature where you could've combined two powerups into one more powerful combined powerup. Sales for Blur in the USA was 31,000 in 5 days and 500,000 in it's tragically short lifespan. A sequel was planned but due to Activision killing Bizarre Creation that went abandoned and never finished. Although a free-to-play spin off was released in 2013.
{{IncidentCargo
|Company=Activision Blizzard
|StartDate=2011
|EndDate=
|Status=Active
|ProductLine=Blur
|Product=Blur
|ArticleType=Incident
|Type=Service Termination
|Description=The game Blur cannot be legitimately purchased for no apparent reason.
}}
Blur is an arcade-style street racing game released on May 25, 2010 for Windows, PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Blur |url=https://www.gamespot.com/games/blur/ |url-status=live |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20250818004301/https://www.gamespot.com/games/blur/ |archive-date=18 Aug 2025|access-date=21 Nov 2025 |website=GameSpot}}</ref> It was discontinued in 2011 when the game studio behind Blur, Bizarre Creations, was shut down by [[Activision Blizzard|Activision]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=16 Nov 2010 |title=Updated: Activision shutting down Bizarre and Budcat studios? |url=https://www.pcgamer.com/activision-shuts-down-bizarre-and-budcat-studios/ |url-status=live |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20260104011532/https://www.pcgamer.com/activision-shuts-down-bizarre-and-budcat-studios/ |archive-date=4 Jan 2026|access-date=21 Nov 2025 |website=PCGamer}}</ref><!-- find a better citation if possible, this one doesn't definitively mention the studio shutting down, and doesn't support the 2011 date besides inferring article date + 3 months. also need to clarify if the servers were shut down at the same time or not, and how much of the game's value was lost when the servers were shutdown. --> The PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 have been discontinued, and Blur has been delisted on [[Steam]], thus Blur is not for sale on any platform.<ref>{{Cite web |date=18 Nov 2018 |title=How can I buy this game legally? |url=https://steamcommunity.com/app/42640/discussions/0/3374780959389252968 |url-status=live |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20250814080920/https://steamcommunity.com/app/42640/discussions/0/3374780959389252968/ |archive-date=14 Aug 2025|access-date=2025-11-23 |website=Steam}}</ref> Blur servers have been brought back online as of 2023.<ref>{{Cite web |date=19 Jan 2023 |title=Steam thread |url=https://steamcommunity.com/app/42640/discussions/0/3758850980071094166/?l=english |url-status=live |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20260222203757/https://steamcommunity.com/app/42640/discussions/0/3758850980071094166/?l=english |archive-date=22 Feb 2026|access-date=2025-11-23 |website=Steam}}</ref>
 
==Background==
==Background==
{{Incomplete section}}
Most platforms gave Blur favourable reviews.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2021-11-23 |title=GameFAQs reviews for blur |url=https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/pc/960251-blur/reviews |url-status=live |access-date=2026-02-06 |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20250427070803/https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/pc/960251-blur/reviews |archive-date=27 Apr 2025|website=GameFAQs}}</ref> Blur sold 31,000 copies in the US in the first 5 days<ref>{{Cite web |date=2010-07-08 |title=Activison: Blur was not a failure |url=https://www.eurogamer.net/activision-blur-was-not-a-failure |url-status=live |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20241009041632/https://www.eurogamer.net/activision-blur-was-not-a-failure |archive-date=9 Oct 2024|access-date=2025-11-23 |website=Eurogamer}}</ref> and sold a total of 500,000 copies by the time it was discontinued.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-11-23 |title=Article clipping from The Independent |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-independent/87964042 |url-status=live |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20250810003013/https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-independent/87964042/ |archive-date=10 Aug 2025|access-date=2025-11-23}}</ref> A sequel was planned, but was abandoned and never finished due to the closing of Bizarre Creations.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-04-04 |title=Blur 2 |url=https://kotaku.com/games/blur-2 |access-date=2026-02-06 |url-status=live |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20250623003725/https://kotaku.com/games/blur-2 |archive-date=23 Jun 2025|website=Kotaku}}</ref> An officially licensed free-to-play spin-off titled "Blur Overdrive" was released on November 1, 2013 by Marmalade Play.<ref>{{Cite web |author=Damien McFerran |date=2013-11-20 |title=Blur Overdrive Review |url=https://www.pocketgamer.com/blur-overdrive/ |url-status=live |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20260222203936/https://www.pocketgamer.com/blur-overdrive/ |archive-date=22 Feb 2026|access-date=2026-01-05 |website=Pocketgamer.com}}</ref>
 
==Discontinuation notice==
Activision's statement:<blockquote>Over the past three years since our purchase of Bizarre Creations, the fundamentals of the racing genre have changed significantly. Although we made a substantial investment in creating a new IP, Blur, it did not find a commercial audience. Bizarre is a very talented team of developers; however, because of the broader economic factors impacting the market, we are exploring our options regarding the future of the studio, including a potential sale of the business.<ref>{{Cite web |date=16 Nov 2010 |title=Activision Looking To Close Or Sell Bizarre Creations |url=https://worthplaying.com/article/2010/11/16/news/78258-activision-looking-to-close-or-sell-bizarre-creations/ |url-status=live |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20260206222947/https://worthplaying.com/article/2010/11/16/news/78258-activision-looking-to-close-or-sell-bizarre-creations/ |archive-date=6 Feb 2026|access-date=21 Nov 2025 |website=WorthPlaying}}</ref></blockquote>
 
==Consumer response==
The consumer response to Activision discontinuing Blur was of disappointment. Players enjoyed the game's campaign mode and split-screen racing. The legal way to play Blur is to purchase a Steam key or obtain a physical disc, but this is difficult, as the game has been delisted on Steam. Because of this, many players have resorted to downloading the game on abandonware sites.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-12-26 |title=Reddit thread |url=https://www.reddit.com/r/patientgamers/comments/1fx72vx/while_a_commercial_failure_at_the_time_blur_is/ |url-status=live |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20241217064929/https://old.reddit.com/r/patientgamers/comments/1fx72vx/while_a_commercial_failure_at_the_time_blur_is/ |archive-date=17 Dec 2024|access-date=2025-12-26 |website=Reddit}}</ref>


== Impact ==
Unofficial servers for Blur are currently being hosted by the Amax Emu project.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Amax Emu |url=https://amax-emu.com/Dashboard |url-status=live |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20260204160712/https://amax-emu.com/Dashboard |archive-date=4 Feb 2026|access-date=2025-12-27 |website=Amax Emu}}</ref>
{{Incomplete section}}


==See also==
==See also==
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{{reflist}}
{{reflist}}


[[Category:Activision]]
[[Category:Activision Blizzard]]
[[Category:Discontinued products]]
[[Category:Video games]]
[[Category:Service cancellation]]

Latest revision as of 18:30, 19 March 2026

Blur is an arcade-style street racing game released on May 25, 2010 for Windows, PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360.[1] It was discontinued in 2011 when the game studio behind Blur, Bizarre Creations, was shut down by Activision.[2] The PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 have been discontinued, and Blur has been delisted on Steam, thus Blur is not for sale on any platform.[3] Blur servers have been brought back online as of 2023.[4]

Background

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Most platforms gave Blur favourable reviews.[5] Blur sold 31,000 copies in the US in the first 5 days[6] and sold a total of 500,000 copies by the time it was discontinued.[7] A sequel was planned, but was abandoned and never finished due to the closing of Bizarre Creations.[8] An officially licensed free-to-play spin-off titled "Blur Overdrive" was released on November 1, 2013 by Marmalade Play.[9]

Discontinuation notice

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Activision's statement:

Over the past three years since our purchase of Bizarre Creations, the fundamentals of the racing genre have changed significantly. Although we made a substantial investment in creating a new IP, Blur, it did not find a commercial audience. Bizarre is a very talented team of developers; however, because of the broader economic factors impacting the market, we are exploring our options regarding the future of the studio, including a potential sale of the business.[10]

Consumer response

[edit | edit source]

The consumer response to Activision discontinuing Blur was of disappointment. Players enjoyed the game's campaign mode and split-screen racing. The legal way to play Blur is to purchase a Steam key or obtain a physical disc, but this is difficult, as the game has been delisted on Steam. Because of this, many players have resorted to downloading the game on abandonware sites.[11]

Unofficial servers for Blur are currently being hosted by the Amax Emu project.[12]

See also

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References

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  1. ↑ "Blur". GameSpot. Archived from the original on 18 Aug 2025. Retrieved 21 Nov 2025.
  2. ↑ "Updated: Activision shutting down Bizarre and Budcat studios?". PCGamer. 16 Nov 2010. Archived from the original on 4 Jan 2026. Retrieved 21 Nov 2025.
  3. ↑ "How can I buy this game legally?". Steam. 18 Nov 2018. Archived from the original on 14 Aug 2025. Retrieved 2025-11-23.
  4. ↑ "Steam thread". Steam. 19 Jan 2023. Archived from the original on 22 Feb 2026. Retrieved 2025-11-23.
  5. ↑ "GameFAQs reviews for blur". GameFAQs. 2021-11-23. Archived from the original on 27 Apr 2025. Retrieved 2026-02-06.
  6. ↑ "Activison: Blur was not a failure". Eurogamer. 2010-07-08. Archived from the original on 9 Oct 2024. Retrieved 2025-11-23.
  7. ↑ "Article clipping from The Independent". 2025-11-23. Archived from the original on 10 Aug 2025. Retrieved 2025-11-23.
  8. ↑ "Blur 2". Kotaku. 2024-04-04. Archived from the original on 23 Jun 2025. Retrieved 2026-02-06.
  9. ↑ Damien McFerran (2013-11-20). "Blur Overdrive Review". Pocketgamer.com. Archived from the original on 22 Feb 2026. Retrieved 2026-01-05.
  10. ↑ "Activision Looking To Close Or Sell Bizarre Creations". WorthPlaying. 16 Nov 2010. Archived from the original on 6 Feb 2026. Retrieved 21 Nov 2025.
  11. ↑ "Reddit thread". Reddit. 2025-12-26. Archived from the original on 17 Dec 2024. Retrieved 2025-12-26.
  12. ↑ "Amax Emu". Amax Emu. Archived from the original on 4 Feb 2026. Retrieved 2025-12-27.
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