Stricken publisher, THQ, has announced that Warhammer 40k: Dark Millennium Online will no longer be an MMO and will, instead, become a single player experience with multiplayer components. The news comes as a result of their ailing financial situation, with further news that another 118 full-time staff will be made redundant: 79 from Darksiders developer Vigil Games, and 39 from Relic Entertainment.
In a statement, THQ CEO Brian Farrell said: “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”.
It may be an unpopular decision, but it’s possible a wise move - 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 Millennium; the likes of Guild Wars 2, SW:TOR, Eve Online and Dust 514, mean that THQ would have to invest further funds to compete, making the odds of success even less likely.
MMOs are an incredibly lucrative investment, however the competition has become fierce. Time will tell whether or not THQ has made the right decision.
