Writer Daedalic Leisure is closing the Hamburg, Germany-based inner studio that made The Lord of the Rings: Gollum, and has ended improvement on a second mission based mostly on the Lord of the Rings mental property, the corporate has confirmed to Polygon. Daedalic will as an alternative absolutely give attention to its publishing enterprise.
In a press release to Polygon, Daedalic stated Gollum “didn’t stay as much as the expectations we had for the sport,” however added that the writer will proceed to work on one other patch for the stealth-adventure sport, which it launched in Could. Daedalic stated it plans to work with former staff to position them elsewhere in its “community.”
GamesWirtschaft first reported on the studio’s closure.
The Lord of the Rings: Gollum was introduced in 2019 and was initially deliberate to reach in 2021. Daedalic’s unique pitch for Gollum’s stand-alone journey promised a narrative “from a perspective by no means seen earlier than, in any storytelling medium, all of the whereas staying true to the legendary books of J.R.R. Tolkien.” Gollum was delayed a number of occasions and landed with a essential thud. In Polygon’s overview of the sport, we stated it lacks the persona of Tolkien’s character and easily “isn’t a lot enjoyable” to play.
Daedalic’s different, now-canceled Lord of the Rings sport was by no means formally introduced or formally titled, however was billed as an expertise that might “transport the participant right into a lush world stuffed with legendary creatures and magic.” Like Gollum, the sport promised to inform “a narrative from a personality’s perspective that has by no means been instructed earlier than.” The 3D action-adventure mission was codenamed It’s Magic, in line with Germany’s Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action.
Right here’s Daedalic’s full assertion:
Daedalic Leisure has made the choice to shut its improvement division, with full focus now on our publishing enterprise. Eight promising releases shall be launching on this monetary 12 months alone.
Regardless that The Lord of the Rings: Gollum didn’t stay as much as the expectations we had for the sport, we’re very grateful for the chance and the training expertise it introduced us.
At present, we’re engaged on one other patch for The Lord of the Rings: Gollum. A follow-up mission in The Lord of the Rings universe that has already been began shall be discontinued. The Federal Ministry for Financial Affairs and Local weather Safety, because the physique answerable for the federal funding, was knowledgeable of this a while in the past.
We worth every member of our staff very a lot and it is very important us that the transition goes in addition to potential. We’ll due to this fact assist our former staff to find new alternatives inside our community.
A tough break, but additionally a brand new starting within the already lengthy historical past of Daedalic Leisure.