The stricken publisher, THQ, have announced
that Warhammer 40k: Dark Millenium Online will no longer be an
MMO and will, instead, become a single player experience with
multiplayer components. This is as a result of their ailing financial
situation and comes with the news that another 118 full-time staff
will be made redundant; 79 from Vigil Games and 39 from Relic
Entertainment.
Part of a statement put out by THQ CEO Brian
Farrell reads "As previously announced, we have been actively
looking for a business partner for the game as an MMO. 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".
An unpopular decision, but a wise move as MMOs
cost a fortune to develop. BioWare's Star Wars: The Old Republic is
thought to have cost
upwards of $200million to create. Not to mention the MMO market
is increasingly saturated with high end competitors to Dark
Millenium, the likes of Guild Wars 2, SWTOR, Eve Online and Dust 514,
meaning that THQ would have to invest more further funds to compete
making the odds of success even less likely.
MMOs are an incredibly lucrative investment,
however, the competition has become fierce so MMOs are costing ever
increasing amounts of money to produce and maintain.
What are your thoughts and opinions on this? Are
you still pining for a Warhammer 40k MMO or will you be more
satisfied with a single player experience? Let us know in the
comments below!
