THQ has announced Warhammer 40,000: Dark Millennium Online is no longer an MMO, and the titles will be “refocused” as “an immersive single-player and online multiplayer experience with robust digital content, and engaging community features.” The resulting change has led to lay-offs at Vigil and Relic.
Team sizes at two THQ internal studios will be reduced by 79 full-time employees at Vigil Games in Austin, Texas, and 39 employees at Relic Entertainment in Vancouver, B.C. which in total is 118 employees.
“As previously announced, we have been actively looking for a business partner for the game as an MMO,” said Brian Farrell, THQ president and CEO. “However, based on changing market dynamics and the additional investment required to complete the game as an MMO, we believe the right direction for us is to shift the title from an MMO to a premium experience with single and multiplayer gameplay, robust digital content and community features.
“Because we believe strongly in the high-quality and vast creative work that is in production, this is the right decision for both our portfolio and for gamers devoted to this powerful property.”
Vigil Games will continue to focus on Dark Millennium as well as Darksiders II as Relic continues to focus on Company of Heroes and Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War.
Further product details, platforms and release timing will be announced at a later date.
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