Word in today has it that several high-profile developers working on The Agency have quit Online Entertainment to form their own start-up.

According to Eurogamer.net, studio director Matt Wilson, art director Corey Dangel, and producer John Smith have all jumped ship, leaving the ambitious espionage in the lurch.

The trio were busy working at Sony Online's north-western studio, while the firm assures that these departures won't impact the project overly, or change the game fundamentally.

Wilson and co have launched a new studio called Detonator Games. We don't yet know what they'll be working on.

By Luke Guttridge