According to THQ CEO Brian Farrell, “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.”
”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,” he added.
“We are genuinely excited about the new direction that THQ is taking with Warhammer 40,000: Dark Millennium, and we are sure that this will be a great addition to the ever growing stable of authentic and engaging Warhammer 40,000 video games,” said Games Workshop head of licensing Jon Gillard.
The unfortunate side of the transition is that 79 full-time employees will be let go from two internal THQ studios based in Austin, TX, Vigil Games and Relic Entertainment.
A few months ago, THQ was looking for “an active partner” for Dark Millenium Online. It could be the failure to find one has resulted in this transition.
Vigil will continue to develop Dark Millenium and Darksiders II, while Relic will also be working on Dark Millenium as well as the Company of Heroes and Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War franchises.
